King Philippe is already starting a new consultation round of the party chairmen this afternoon. This morning preformers Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Paul Magnette (PS) offered their resignation. The king reserves his decision for a while.
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Magnette and De Wever had a meeting with the king this morning at 11 am. It was very short, and lasted barely half an hour. Afterwards, Magnette and De Wever did not comment.
They offered their resignation after their formation attempt stalled on Friday. That dismissal has not (yet) been accepted by the king. First he wants to hear all party chairpersons. First that of the bubble of five (CD&V, CDH, PS, SP.A and N-VA), then the liberals and the greens.
The consultations start immediately. Joachim Coens (CD&V), Conner Rousseau (SP.A) and Maxime Prévot (CDH) are the first chairmen to visit. Coens and Rousseau are expected at the Palace at 2 and 3 pm respectively. A telephone interview with Prévot will follow at 4 pm, because the CDH chairman is abroad.
In July, De Wever and Magnette were instructed by the king to take the necessary steps to establish a government. Their formation attempt ran on Friday completely tight. In addition to N-VA, PS, SP.A, CDH and CD&V, the two were looking for a sixth party to join the government, preferably Open VLD. But the Flemish liberals do not see fit in a government without MR, and think that the content of the memorandum deviates too far from their vision. Nevertheless, party chairman Lachaert announced that he would keep talking about government formation.
Time is starting to run out. Prime Minister Wilmès has to ask for support for her minority cabinet again on 17 September, and there is no way she will regain a majority behind her. If there is still not enough clarity about a new coalition by then, there will be votes to hold new elections.
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