PS Boycotts Bouchez Working Groups as Belgian Budget Talks Stall
Brussels, Belgium – November 11, 2023 – Belgium’s federal budget negotiations remain stalled as the Socialist Party (PS) announced it will not participate in working groups proposed by MR (Mouvement Réformateur) Chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez. The move comes after thirteen days of suspended talks, raising concerns that the MR is prioritizing delay tactics over substantive progress.
The PS is demanding a resumption of extensive budget negotiations, arguing that a clear, common framework is needed too break the impasse. A source within the PS stated, “We are asking for a clear, common framework to revive the negotiations.” The party contends that agreement already exists among the six participating parties on approximately 85 percent of the budget lines.
The perception that Bouchez is pursuing option priorities while the budget remains unresolved is fueling skepticism among Brussels negotiators. Sources suggest the working groups are a means of buying time rather than a genuine effort to find solutions.
Yvan Verougstraete, chairman of Les Engagés, echoed these concerns in a Tuesday morning interview with BX1 radio. “By November 11, we must make progress and restore confidence,” Verougstraete stated, implying that Bouchez will need to alter his approach if no headway is made within the week.
The lack of progress is exacerbating mistrust between the parties. “Because this way, mistrust only grows,” a source close to the negotiations explained. The source further noted that discussing an administrative agreement could perhaps broaden the scope of negotiations, making a comprehensive deal on both budget and policy more attainable. However, the parties initially agreed to negotiate a multi-year budget, and the MR’s unilateral deviation from this agreement is raising doubts about its commitment to finding a resolution.
The upcoming plenary meeting on Wednesday is not expected to focus on substantive budget details, but rather on Bouchez’s negotiating methods, signaling a deepening rift within the Belgian government.
