After 148 days without a government, trainer Bart De Wever (N-VA) reported to the King this Monday. At 11:30 a.m., he went to the Royal Palace.
Following this meeting, the Royal Palace published a press release. “Mr. De Wever informed the King of the progress of his mission with a view to the formation of a new government“, communicates the Palace. “Having not obtained the agreement of all the partners currently involved in the negotiations, Mr. De Wever submitted his resignation to the King“, the press release continues. It is then specified that “the King holds his decision under advisement and gives Mr. De Wever time, until November 12, to carry out additional consultations“.
Shortly before, at 10:00 a.m., the Arizona negotiators (N-VA, CD&V, Vooruit, MR and Engagés) met again to see if it was still possible to negotiate.
In recent weeks, the negotiations have evolved little or not at all. The Flemish socialists of Vooruit blocked the trainer’s note, considering it too “right-wing”.
This Monday, the party presidents were rather stingy with comments upon their arrival. Only the president of the CD&V, Sammy Mahdi, responded to the media present. “I think this is Arizona’s last chance meeting“, he explained. “We’ll see inside if we can still negotiate“, he added.
Bart De Wever now has a little over a week to consult the other political parties. Will it be possible to restart the Arizona machine by convincing Vooruit to stay at the negotiating table? Or will we have to find another solution, another majority? The Open Vld could, for example, take Vooruit’s place, but the coalition thus formed would only have a narrow majority of one seat in the Chamber.
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