The Flemish Government's Minister for Brussels Affairs, Cieltje Van Achter (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA), has labelled the proposal by the head of the Socialist Party, PS, in Brussels for the resolution of the political impasse in the Capital Region a sign of “total contempt” for the Flemish community in Brussels.
Open Vld negotiator Frederic De Gucht was similarly critical in a message posted on 'X.'
On Wednesday afternoon, the head of the PS in Brussels, Ahmed Laaouej, suggested appointing David Leisterh (Mouvement Réformateur, MR) as prime minister, through a parliamentary democratic process, as a way to break the political impasse in Brussels-Capital Region. He proposed that ministers be appointed similarly in a second phase, citing a provision from the Special Law on Brussels Institutions that allows for appointments by secret ballots of members of the Government of Brussels.
According to Van Achter, the PS proposal shows “total disdain for the Dutch-speaking community of Brussels.”
“The PS refuses to negotiate and is now trying to sideline the Flemish majority. It’s absurd,” Van Achter commented.
Brussels does not need a new proposal mainly regulating PS positions, the N-VA minister argued. Instead, Brussels needs “a full-fledged government that deeply reforms and makes decisions,” he added.
“Ahmed Laaouej’s proposal to elect Brussels ministers, particularly himself, individually through the parliament, challenges Brussels’ reputation as the capital of surrealism," Flemish Liberal Frederic De Gucht (Open Vld) commented. "It is politically unacceptable. First negotiate, then reach an agreement, and finally appoint ministers. Not the other way around.”
