The Brussels-Capital Region's newly sworn-in parliament held its first session on Tuesday afternoon, inaugurated by the regional parliament's interim president, Pierre Kompany.
The new legislative term will be led by a deeply revamped parliament, after last month's legislative elections brought in a wave of first-time lawmakers into the parliamentary chambers.
Kompany, the 71-year-old mayor of Brussels’ municipality Ganshoren, will lead the regional parliament until negotiations on the formation of a new majority conclude.
During the first session, each party designated a leader, some on a temporary basis as the negotiations continue.
Dutch-speaking parties Groen (greens), Open Vld (liberals) and N-VA (right-wing, Flemish nationalists) appointed Arnaud Verstraeten, Sven Gatz and Cieltje Van Achter as their respective leaders, while Flemish socialist party (sp.a) is yet to appoint a leader, according to reports.
Flemish far-right party, Vlaams Belang, CD&V and citizen-based Agora each have a single MP to represent them.
On the French-speaking side, the PS (socialists), Ecolo (greens) and MR (liberals) respectively appointed Ridouane Chahid, Alain Maron and former Molenbeek mayor Françoise Schepmans to lead their ranks.
Gabriela Galindo
The Brussels Times
