The President of the Brussels PS Federation, Laurette Onkelinx, threatened their partner, the cdH, with an alternative majority in the Regional Parliament if the deadlock over family benefits continues.
There is currently a deadlock as the PS, DéFI and majority Flemish parties want a system that would move all the children concerned over to the new system as soon as the reform comes into effect. The reform includes a standard amount that varies from 145 euros to 190 euros depending on the situation and according to social supplements. The cdH wants a system that’s as close as possible to the systems in place in other regions, where the reform would only be applied to children born after this period.
The Ecologists, who have submitted a proposition they think is close to the one desired by the majority of the Brussels government’s partners, has offered to back an alternative majority. The situation was tense at the start of the year but has now improved.
During the Socialist Federation’s New Year gathering on Sunday, Laurette Onkelinx did not hide her feelings of impatience and irritation towards their partner, the cdH. “I’ll be very clear: if there is no government agreement, work will have to continue in Parliament and we would have to vote, even if it’s with an alternative majority. I wouldn’t choose to do that, but enough is enough!” she said.
The Brussels Times
