The negotiators from the N-VA, MR, Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V left Monday morning around 5:15 a.m. They had been meeting since Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Presidency of the House to discuss the budgetary aspect of the work with a view to forming a federal government.
This is the first time that Arizona negotiators have addressed this central theme together since trainer Bart De Wever returned to the saddle in September. “A marathon negotiation session from the trainer Bart De Wever where he alternated bilaterals with each of the 5 parties of this coalition under construction, he meets them eye to eye, to achieve progress and concessions, and then beaches plenary negotiations where all the negotiators meet together. It's a fairly classic technique, but it takes time, a lot of time. Because when the trainer is bilateral with one party, the others can play cards or eat peanuts“, analyzes Martin Buxant, our political referent.
Since Vooruit's return to the negotiating table in mid-November, discussions between the presidents of the five parties have already taken place on different themes explored by working groups (security, energy, immigration, defense, etc.) Saturday , they saw each other on the institutional level for the second time. As long as the question of the budgetary framework is not resolved, it is difficult to complete the other themes, due to lack of knowing what means are available for the policies to be carried out during the legislature. The question is all the more sensitive as Belgium is subject to a European procedure for excessive deficit.
“We are around a figure of 18 billion euros. 18 billion is the amount that Belgium absolutely must find to return to budgetary constraints, the obligations imposed by Europe. What is being discussed is knowing over how many years this effort of 18 billion euros will have to be carried out. Presumably, the future government will ask the European Commission that this return to “budgetary green” be implemented around 2029 or 2030. But be careful, these 18 billion will potentially be increased by 3 to 5 billion euros, since Belgium is forced to spend more on defense to fulfill its obligations to NATO“, specifies Martin Buxant.
The trainer's next report to the King is scheduled for December 10. The negotiators' ambition remains to form a government by the end of the year, but will they succeed? “It depends on who we talk to among the negotiators. Some are reasonably optimistic: work on socio-economic and budgetary reforms will continue and an Arizona agreement could see the light of day before Christmas. An Arizona under the tree. Others, on the other hand, point out that the return of Conner Rousseau, the president of the Flemish socialists, in negotiations strains the right wing of Arizona and in particular the MR. It's always the same refrain: taxes, taxes, taxes, we complain among the liberals. From Wever to Santa Claus Prime Minister, it's not yet won“, adds our political referent.
“We were able to discuss and negotiate. We come home with little eyes. Monday, first day off in a long time. After that we will negotiate again.”commented on Instagram the president of CD&V, Sammy Mahdi.
arizona formation of a federal government Bart de Wever Budget
