Hibapress
King Philippe of Belgium has once again tasked the leader of the Flemish nationalist party (N-VA), Bart De Wever, with forming the next Belgian government, the Royal Palace announced on Monday.
This announcement came following the reception granted by the Belgian sovereign to the royal mediator, Maxime Prévot, responsible for bringing together the points of view of the political parties which are to form the new majority, and who reported to the King on his mediation mission.
On this occasion, Mr. Prévot, president of the French-speaking centrist party Les Engagés, informed King Philippe of the desire of the five parties involved in the discussions for the formation of a new federal government to resume negotiations, the Palace said in a press release.
These include, in addition to the N-VA and Les Engagés, the French-speaking liberal party Mouvement réformateur (MR) and the Flemish parties CD&V (centre-right) and Vooruit (socialist).
Based on the mediator’s findings, the King relieved Mr Prévot of his mission and appointed Bart De Wever as trainer with a view to rapidly continuing negotiations between the five partners considered for the future coalition. The president of the N-VA must report on 23 September, the Palace further detailed.
Bart De Wever, whose party came out on top in the legislative elections of 9 June, resigned from his role as trainer on 22 August following the failure of the negotiations he was conducting with the four other parties.
The proposed coalition has stumbled over differences over taxation, mainly between the French-speaking liberals and the Flemish socialists.
Due to a very complex political system, Belgium is used to marathon political negotiations. The outgoing federal government took 653 days to be formed.
