Ans Persoons expressed exasperation at the lack of dialogue after more than seven months of deadlock. She recalled the challenges ahead, including drastic budgetary savings, and underlined the importance for socialists to participate in power to influence these choices. She also criticized the dispersal of the CD&V and the provocations on social networks of Theo Francken (N-VA), which, according to her, hinder the formation of a coalition. Without these “disrespectful tweets”, “there might have been room to get closer and form a government”, according to her.
“At least we tried.”
Despite these frustrations, Ans Persoons said she was convinced that the socialist parties were capable of negotiating a fair and united government agreement, including with the MR and the N-VA. “So that coffee with Cieltje… I’ll make it myself if necessary. And I’ll bring cookies. And maybe things will go wrong once we’re around the table, but at least we tried ” said Ans Persons.
She suggested, in the short term, the implementation of an emergency socio-economic reform, focused solely on the 2025 budget, leaving aside other issues for the moment.
Questioned this weekend in “Le Soir”, the boss of the Brussels socialists did not change his attitude. “The N-VA is not essential,” he repeated, recalling in passing the failure of the Flemish nationalists in the legislative elections of June 9, whether in Brussels or in Wallonia, or in the municipal elections where they did not. have not won a single municipal councilor in the capital. “They want to force our hand with the N-VA and we do not accept this forced marriage; there is no example of successful forced marriage,” he warned.
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So far, although he has responded to messages sent by Ms. Van Achter, he does not wish to meet her. “The PS is a bulwark. The people of Brussels do not want a government that will be under the control of an anti-Brussels party. They expect us to defend them, and we are there. In fact, what the parties right-wingers do not want, it is a regional government where the PS has its fair democratic weight. They want to be able to do in Brussels what they will do with Arizona at the federal level. is also not allow the Region to be torn apart by the separatist, nationalist and anti-Brussels program of the N-VA. I add: a party which denigrates Brussels residents of immigrant ancestry with complete impunity. The N-VA does this from week to week. week, spitting in the faces of people from diverse backgrounds,” he said.
