Six months after the regional elections, negotiations for the formation of the Brussels government are finally moving forward on the Flemish side. This Monday evening, a three-hour “constructive” meeting took place between negotiators from Groen, the N-VA, the Open VLD and Vooruit. But the first elements that leaked may not please all parties on the French-speaking side.
The discussions focused on the starting note – the “supernota” in political jargon – presented by the Brussels leader of Groen, Elke Van den Brandt, last Monday to her colleagues Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA), Frédéric De Gucht (Open VLD) and Ans Persoons (Vooruit). The latter consulted their party before returning with their comments. And things seem to be going on the right track.
We were able to provide this starting note, which will therefore still undergo modifications after passing through the box of Dutch-speaking negotiations and especially those with the French-speaking ones. However, here are the main orientations desired by the Flemish parties, analyzed by our political journalist Fabrice Grosfilley.
Merger of municipalities and return of the kilometer tax
“Of the ten pages of this note, two are devoted to the way of distributing the influences of the Dutch-speaking parties, but there are already elements which could raise eyebrows among the French-speaking parties.“, he observes.
In particular, at the level of the community menu, on which the four Dutch-speaking parties have agreed. We can see the merger of police zones – it was something expected – but it goes much further since the merger of municipalities is also discussed. Municipalities would be replaced by districts where a reception desk would be maintained for citizens. A measure that seems impractical to implement at the PS level. There merger of CPAS is also envisaged with an obligation in the text to move towards more real bilingualism in Brussels public services.
Another chapter: the mobility. The return of SmartMove, the smart mileage tax is mentioned. It is also stated in the note that this is to discourage the purchase of the heavier SUVs.
There is also a chapter accommodation where it is a question of rent control, but also of the protection of green zones with the impossibility of building housing on sites such as the Chant des Cailles, the Friche Josaphat or the Dondenberg. A point which should also particularly irritate the Socialist Party.
Water to the PS mill
One thing that a number of parties could agree on is the need to move towards fiscal consolidation. “On the other hand, for the rest of this note, it is not very clear what could soften the position of the PS which has issued a sort of veto to the participation of the N-VA in the next Brussels government. The publication of this note brings grist to the mill of the socialist party.”
► See also | Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) on the formation of the Brussels government: “I am shocked by the PS veto”
BX1 – Photo : Belga
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