Arizona is the only possible coalition formula in the short term, says royal informant Bart De Wever in an interview broadcast Friday by the W16 news site
The elections of June 9 delivered clearer results than expected and opened up possibilities that aroused “a kind of general optimism“, according to the president of the N-VA.
In Flanders, Mr. De Wever passed the torch to Matthias Diependaele who is leading negotiations involving the N-VA, Vooruit and the CD&V.
This formula should be reproduced at the federal level alongside the MR and the Engagés on the French-speaking side. “There is something inevitable around a federal formula that must at least be attempted“, he believes.
If there were to be another coalition, Mr. De Wever fears a government formation that drags on.
“I fear we will have to wait until October and have eaten the Christmas turkey before there is any training. And I haven’t said what year yet“, he quipped.
In the summer of 2020, the Flemish nationalist leader had discussions with his PS counterpart, Paul Magnette, during which the contours of an institutional reform were outlined but never deepened after a barrage from liberals and environmentalists.
One of the scenarios mentioned for after June 9 was the resumption of this discussion, seen as the only possibility of giving the country a majority. But the victory of the MR and the Engagés changed the situation and allowed a rapprochement of socio-economic points of view between the parties expected to form a coalition in the north and south of the country.
“It will be more difficult to progress on an institutional level and easier on a socio-economic level“, predicted Mr. De Wever.
Bart de Wever formation of the Arizona government
