Before its birth, it already had a name: the so-called “Arizona” coalition. Supposed to govern Belgium, it was to bring together five parties and be led by Bart De Wever, president of the Neo-Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and “former” of the government. Monday, November 4, almost five months after the legislative elections of June 9, the nationalist leader nevertheless presented his resignation to the head of state, King Philippe of Belgium.
The Flemish socialist party, Vooruit, one of the potential members of the coalition, considered that the socio-economic program proposed by Mr De Wever was not sufficiently balanced. “Spare the super-rich and multinationals, we can’t ask that of the socialists”declared a party spokesperson on Sunday evening.
Now deprived of the red color of this party, the flag of “Arizona” is therefore at half-mast and has only three colors (the blue of the French-speaking liberals, the yellow of the Flemish nationalists and the orange of the Christian Democrats, Flemish and French-speaking). Four right-wing and center-right parties committed to redressing the country’s very difficult budgetary situation and who still say they want to see their project succeed. But they will have to try to find a fifth partner if they want to obtain a majority in the House of Representatives. And, at this stage, those who are likely to be approached indicate their refusal.
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A so-called last chance meeting was called for Monday morning by Mr. De Wever but it did not result in an agreement. Designated trainer by the king on September 2, after an initial failure of the negotiations he had led, the leader of the N-VA then went to the Brussels palace and presented his resignation. The head of state, however, reserved his decision and invited the nationalist leader to carry out “additional consultations” by November 12.
“We will not be the troubleshooters”
Most observers believed on Monday that new negotiations with the Flemish socialists were, however, very unlikely to succeed. The N-VA, the Reform Movement (MR, French-speaking liberal), Les Engagés (French-speaking centrists) and the Christian Democrats and Flemish (CD & V), apparently ready to extend their alliance, are now looking for the formation which will allow them to achieve a majority.
There is no question for the French-speaking PS of engaging in discussions. “We would like to change things, we do not choose the opposition for our own pleasure but we did not get the best result on June 9. We have therefore chosen the opposition and we will remain there”declared Paul Magnette, the president of this formation, on October 26.
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