Brussels Coalition Talks Stalled as Ecolo Rejects MR Involvement
Brussels, Belgium – June 3, 2025 – Attempts to forge a Brussels government excluding the Socialist Party (PS) have hit a roadblock, with Ecolo refusing to engage in negotiations alongside the Reformist Movement (MR). The impasse, revealed today, centers on Ecolo’s unwillingness to collaborate with MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez, despite a previous softening of the party’s stance toward potential coalition participation.
The situation unfolded after Brussels committed President Yvan Verougstraete initiated exploratory talks with various parties,including MR,PS,PTB,and Défi,ostensibly to discuss the region’s budgetary trajectory. Verougstraete aimed to identify potential common ground for a governing majority, but the effort quickly morphed into a search for a coalition excluding the PS – a move that ultimately proved unsuccessful with Ecolo.
While Ecolo co-chair Marie Lecocq had, in April, signaled openness to joining a Brussels majority, and even responded positively to an invitation from Ahmed Laaouej (PS) for discussions with the PTB and Fouad Ahidar, the prospect of negotiating with MR proved insurmountable.
“For Ecolo, it was unachievable to sit at the same table as Georges-Louis Bouchez,” a well-informed source disclosed.
Ecolo maintains it does not have a formal veto against the MR, leaving the door open for potential future discussions, but significant concessions would be required.
Défi leader Bernard Clerfayt expressed disappointment with the process, stating, “It was planned to talk about the budgetary trajectory of the region. But under discussion on Friday, I understood that it was a question of discussing a majority without the PS. It is regrettable that Yvan created a large table to discuss on the substance to finally end up offering a coalition, like the others before him.”
Verougstraete defended the approach,explaining that the discussions were intended to gauge each party’s red lines and internal procedures before formulating a viable coalition proposal. “There was no official proposal concerning majorities,” he stated. “Since all the parties reported to us that the realization of budgetary arbitrations could only be done in the context of a negotiation process, around a table, we asked all the parties what their red lines and their internal procedures were in order to be able to make the proposal that seemed as solid as possible for the future. the response of the different parties belongs to them.”
The failure of this initiative leaves the formation of a Brussels government in uncertainty, with the PS remaining a key player in any potential majority. Marie Lecocq’s priority remains rebuilding her party from opposition, but the possibility of a left-leaning coalition with the PS, PTB, and perhaps Défi, remains on the table.
