A prominent Belgian politician has urged parties to clarify their stance on forming a new regional majority in Brussels, criticising the current indecisive approach.
Cieltje Van Achter, a Brussels minister from the N-VA party, stated that Vooruit and the ecologists must decide whether to support the MR’s initiative for negotiating a new Brussels majority or to align with the PS.
During a Wednesday morning appearance on BX1, Van Achter questioned the parties’ intentions, asking if they preferred a coalition path with the PS, involving far-left elements, or a serious negotiation with substantive topics on the table.
More than a year after the elections, Brussels parties have yet to agree on a viable majority. The MR, which leads among the Francophone parties, has put forward its “general policy declaration” for negotiation. Conversely, the PS aims to form a “progressive” majority through leftist alliances, which Van Achter describes as a “horrible” route involving parties like the PTB and Team Fouad Ahidar.
Van Achter criticised the PS’s timeline, stating that its deadline of 21 July is excessively long. She urged parties such as Vooruit and the ecologists to clarify their positions and make a clear choice between the two paths.
Regarding the MR’s proposition that the N-VA could join the majority with only a commissioner role and no ministerial or state secretary posts, Van Achter indicated potential openness, emphasising content over positions: “For us, the focus is on the substance. We’ll discuss positions later.”
