An invitation issued by Brussels formator David Liesterh (Mouvement Réformateur, MR) to the heads of French-speaking democratic parties to discuss the situation in Brussel-Capital Region drew positive reactions from many of the region's political leaders on Friday.
There was one discordant note, though. Breaking ranks with his party’s Brussels president, Sophie Rohonyi, DéFI founder Olivier Maingain slammed the idea of involving national leaders in the formation of a regional government and said he was leaving the party.
Faced with the deadlock in negotiations on the formation of a regional government for Brussels, Leisterh had announced earlier on Friday that he was inviting the national and Brussels presidents of Francophone parties to discuss the situation in the capital, and particularly the simplification of the region’s institutions.
Support for MR’s call across the political spectrum
Reacting to his call, Christophe de Beukelaer, Brussels leader of Les Engagés party, said “all parties must respond positively to this invitation.”
“The only way out is for constructive and responsible dialogue to lead certain parties to adopt a more open stance in order to reach a solution,” he added. “I call on the PS [Socialist Party] and Ecolo, as well as the Flemish parties - namely Vooruit, Open VLD and CD&V [Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams] - to consider what efforts each of them could make to break the deadlock.”
Dutch-speaking formateur Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) and Flemish Minister for Brussels Affairs Cieltje Van Achter (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) said they hoped Leisterh’s initiative would lead to a breakthrough in the formation of the Brussels government.
Vooruit, CD&V decline to comment
“We take note of the approach announced by the formateur to bring together a French-speaking majority,” Mrs Van den Brandt said. “We will give him the space he needs to organise these talks in the next few days. We hope for rapid progress in the interest of all the people of Brussels.”
Similarly, Van Achter said on X that she supported Leisterh “to break this unbelievable deadlock in Brussels.” Noting the enormous challenges facing the city, she stressed that it was “high time to sit down and take responsibility.”
Open VLD's Frédéric De Gucht also expressed support for the initiative, while Vooruit’s Ans Persoons and Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) declined to comment for the time being.
On the other hand, DéFI’s Maingain made no secret of his opposition to the formateur’s initiative. He also slammed the leader of his party’s Brussels chapter for what he claimed was her acceptance of the idea.
Former party leader withdraws from DéFI in protest
“Sophie Rohonyi has become dependent on the MR by accepting its logic of placing Brussels negotiations under the control of the national parties,” the former DéFI president said. “I note that she no longer defends the autonomy of Brussels Region. As a result, I am leaving DéFI.”
“I will announce my plan to re-found the party in accordance with the convictions that I have always shared with many activists and voters,” he added. “I will be launching an appeal to this effect in the next few days.”
Reacting to his announcement, DéFI-Brussels President Sophie Rohonyi said on the X network that she took note of his decision to leave, “even if it is irrational, counter-productive and hasty.”
An 'irrational' and 'hasty' decision
The decision is “irrational, because it comes at a time when DéFI is finally getting real consultation between French-speaking parties on the future of Brussels. It is counterproductive because, more than ever, French-speakers need to be united in the face of Flemish nationalism” and “hasty, because I haven't yet responded to David Leisterh's invitation. I haven't even received it yet! I want to know the method and the objective.”
“DéFI is calling for multilateral consultation with French-speaking Brussels negotiators who are familiar with Brussels issues,” Ms. Rohonyi added.
“The objective must be to define the priorities and red lines of the French-speaking people to protect Brussels from institutional blackmail, certainly not to haggle over Brussels Region.
"DéFI has always fought against any tutelage of the Brussels Region. It will pursue this commitment with determination, with or without Olivier Maingain.”
