It’s up to Presidents Bouchez and Prévot to sort themselves out
The Walloon Brabant MR finding himself in the position of the turkey of the farce, obliged to sacrifice a provincial deputy to allow the MR to join the majority in Hainaut, resisted.
This unusual revolt finally made Georges-Louis Bouchez give in, which is not common either. The president of the MR, however, spared no effort to convince the Brabançons to follow him. On Friday, he traveled to face Liberal provincial councilors until late in the evening. The next day, he made more phone calls to continue his work of persuasion. In vain.
On Sunday, the 16 provincial councilors who will be sworn in in December decide, with one exception, not to follow their president: it will be a 3-1 agreement or nothing. It’s up to Presidents Bouchez and Prévot to manage with the election night agreement.
It took them more than a week to ensure that everyone could come out of this sequence with their heads held high. The Engagés, who ultimately only have one provincial deputy after having believed they had two, are delighted not to have lost a bit of skills: all the matters which were shared between Maha Karim-Hosselet and Benjamin Goes will be attributed to the latter. Maha Karim-Hosselet will become president of the inBW intermunicipal association. A position that counts as much as a provincial deputy, assure Les Engagés. What is certain is that this position had been monopolized by the MR for decades.
The MR, for his part, is delighted to have recovered his three provincial deputies. Which was, mathematically, the maximum possible in a college of four people.
Tanguy Stuckens will remain president of the provincial college of Walloon Brabant. Sophie Keymolen is also back. They will be joined by Christophe Dister. The MR will also designate the person who will be at the head of the intermunicipal social association of Walloon Brabant (ISBW), currently chaired by Anne Masson.
Even if it is clearly time for celebrations, the question arises as to what will be the consequences of these tensions between the Brabant federation and President Bouchez? What will he do, for example, when it comes to appointing reforming ministers in a future federal government? Could Walloon Brabant pay for its rebellion?
“Both parties are delighted with the outcome of the negotiations”
The press release sent in the middle of the night clearly indicates that both partners have reasons to rejoice: “The agreement gives a new boost of vitality, proximity and efficiency at the provincial level, in line with community and regional political declarations. Both parties are delighted with the final outcome of the negotiations and are determined to work in mutual respect.”
