On Thursday, Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort (PS) expressed regret that the 36th Iris Festival, was being held without a fully functioning government for the first time since 1989.
The holiday takes its name from the flower which symbolises the capital region. Yet after nearly one year, there is still no agreement on a Brussels-Capital Region Government.
In a speech to the Brussels Parliament, he cited three reasons for the blockage, which has been marked by multiple episodes of political crisis in recent months.
Firstly, the confinement of Brussels’ diverse identity to the political opposition of two linguistic communities. Secondly, the "interventionism" in the negotiations of "outside figures seeking to influence the fate of Brussels without subsequently assuming any responsibility".
Finally, he mentioned the desire of some to link the composition of other external governments (including the Federal Government) to that of the Capital Region government.
In passing, he was keen to point out "the full autonomy of the Brussels Region" …won at the time thanks to the support of the French-speaking parties united at federal level.
"They want to make people believe that the chaos in Brussels is due to the absence of a government, in order to impose a majority and/or impose severe austerity measures, or even restrict Brussels’ autonomy," he insisted.
"Whether deliberately or not, people are confusing budget deficits with the ability to finance on the markets, at the risk of creating the very situation they claim to fear. We must not give in to these prophets of doom. Brussels is strong."
However, Vervoort conceded that Brussels needed a fully functioning government with a parliamentary majority and "a political programme accompanied by a budget that would reduce the gap between revenue and expenditure".
In the absence of such a government, the caretaker team is currently examining how to further curb spending so that the budget remains on the multi-year path set out in the initial 2024 budget.
"But I believe that it is now my government’s responsibility to draw up a limited 2025 budget in order to address any budgetary issues that may arise between now and the end of the year and keep the budget within the multi-year framework," he added.
