Before its birth, it already had a name: the coalition called “Arizona” that was to govern Belgium would bring together five parties and would be led by Bart De Wever, president of the Neo-Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and “former” of the government. On 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 Vooruit Socialist Party, one of the potential members of the coalition, considered that the socio-economic program proposed by De Wever was not sufficiently balanced. “Sorry to the super-rich and the multinationals, we cannot ask that of the socialists”declared a party spokesperson on Sunday night.
Already deprived of the red color of this party, the “Arizona” flag is at half-mast and only has three colors (the blue of the French-speaking liberals, the yellow of the Flemish nationalists and the orange of the Christian Democrats). , flamenco and francophone). Four right-wing and center-right parties committed to solving the country’s difficult budget situation and who still say they want their project to 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 point, those who are likely to be approached express their refusal.
Mr De Wever called a so-called last chance meeting for Monday morning, but no agreement was reached. Appointed coach by the king on September 2, after an initial failure of the negotiations he had carried out, the leader of the N-VA went to the palace in Brussels and presented his resignation. The head of state, however, reserved his decision and invited the nationalist leader to carry out “additional queries” before November 12.
“We will not be the ones to solve the problems”
Most observers believed on Monday that new negotiations with the Flemish socialists were highly unlikely to succeed. The N-VA, the Reformist Movement (MR, French-speaking liberal), Les Engagés (French-speaking centrists) and the Flemish Democrats and Christians (CD&V), apparently willing to expand their alliance, are now seeking the formation that suits them and will result in a majority.
The French-speaking PS has no possibility of starting debates. “We would like to change things, we did not choose the opponent for our own pleasure, but on June 9 we did not get the best result. That is why we have chosen the opposition and we will remain there.”declared Paul Magnette, president of this formation, on October 26.
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