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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.