Party chairpersons Georges-Louis Bouchez (MR), Egbert Lachaert (Open VLD) and Joachim Coens (CD&V) have been trying for several weeks to set up a coalition consisting of the current government parties MR, Open Vld and CD&V, supplemented by the N-VA , the SP.A and the CDH.
The talks about this so-called “Arizona” coalition are, however, difficult: the imminent vote on the relaxation of the abortion law in the House throws a spanner in the works – Coens and N-VA chairman Bart De Wever did not make a government case of that relaxation to approve – while the CDH and SP.A thanked the previous week for a first meeting with all six parties.
The PS is currently not involved in those conversations, unlike the Flemish socialists. Not a free choice, Magnette said. “Our essence is our sense of responsibility. We are not just here to protest, that is what sets us apart from other parties on the left. We are here to make proposals and defend them. In essence, we will never choose the opposition “, the PS chairman was clear.
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