Almost every opposition party in the Federal Parliament submitted 103 amendments to the programme law during Wednesday’s plenary debate, possibly erecting a significant obstacle to the Arizona Government's planned reforms.
The parties PS, PTB, Ecolo-Groen and Vlaams Belang requested a review of these amendments by the Council of State, a request granted due to their combined count of more than 50 deputies, meeting the requirement for such an initiative. Open VLD was the only opposition party that did not request a review.
The Council of State is expected to deliver an opinion within five working days if the request for urgency is justified. The referral halted the plenary session's review of the text and ended the proceedings on Wednesday.
As a result, the programme law will not take effect on 1 July, as the Arizona coalition intended, potentially impacting the government's planned reform timetable.
What does the opposition want to amend?
PS group leader Pierre-Yves Dermagne highlighted long-standing concerns regarding the measures' substance and form, announcing amendments in areas such as labour, taxation and pensions.
PTB's Sofie Merckx introduced about 20 amendments targeting what she sees as deficiencies in the programme law.
Sarah Schlitz of Ecolo-Groen proposed two amendments aimed at addressing perceived injustices: protecting employment benefits for all 55-year-olds and recognising time as a caregiver as a contributory period.
François De Smet of DéFI also submitted five amendments, without detailing them during the session.
Uncertainty surrounded Vlaams Belang’s stance, as its 20 deputies were crucial for the referral to the Council of State. The far-right party eventually supported the move, criticising "Arizona's amateur approach to reforms."
Tension in Parliament
N-VA's Axel Ronse, MR's Georges-Louis Bouchez and Vice-prime Minister and minister of Economy and Work David Clarinval. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Tensions flared immediately between the majority and the opposition in the Chamber.
Members of the majority, including Anja Vanrobaeys (Vooruit), regarded the referral as a breach of the cordon sanitaire (the ban against collaborating with the far-right). MR group leader Benoît Piedboeuf criticised what he saw as a violation of the cordon sanitaire.
In contrast, N-VA's Axel Ronse was critical of Vlaams Belang's decision to collaborate with the far left.
CD&V, which also opposed the Council of State referral, faced uproar from the opposition, with PS deputies shouting "Abortus!" This echoed previous sessions where CD&V had stalled a law reforming abortion by referring it to the Council of State.
Both CD&V and Florence Reuter (MR) lamented that the expansion of parental leave to foster parents would not take effect on 1 July.
"Earlier this morning, you had already planned your move, but you lacked the numbers!" observed Aurore Tourneur, leader of Les Engagés.
