2024-10-30 17:26:00
October 30, 2024
18:26
Trainer Bart De Wever (N-VA) brings together federal negotiators this Thursday to see if they agree to resume discussions based on the new budget tables.
In recent days, nothing has filtered through, to the point that we wondered if the negotiations for the formation of Arizona had stalled since Vooruit had demanded a new “super-note”, accompanied by its budgetary tables, to continue the discussions. But bilateral meetings took place on Tuesday between the trainer Bart De Wever (N-VA) and the four other party presidents, Georges-Louis Bouchez (MR), Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés), Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) and Conner Rousseau (Vooruit) on a new working documentl.
The aim is still to land at the end of November or the beginning of December at the latest, so that a series of measures intended to restore public finances can be implemented from 2025.
A new document for analysis
This Wednesday, technicians from each party analyzed the document, and this Thursday noon, Bart De Wever plans to bring together all the presidents to see if they agree to resume discussions on this basis.
On the N-VA side, we hope that these discussions can take place at a more sustained pace, as was initially planned during this vacation week. Time is running out, with the aim still being to land at the end of November or early December at the latest, so that a series of measures intended to restore public finances can be implemented from 2025.
Even though the new text has not apparently undergone any major changes, several sliders have been movedto try to take into account the requests of Vooruit, who found the previous version still far too unbalanced – even worse than the one which had posed a problem during the summer – but also the reluctance of the three other partners.
The budget tables have been revised, with pluses and minuses for each partner. The meeting scheduled for this Thursday is therefore in no way a formality.
Pluses and minuses for each party
Of course it is always for Vooruit that the center-right government program that is taking shape will be the most difficult to accepteven if it includes a tax on capital gains and pensions from the age of 60 on condition of having 42 years of career, two measures dear to the socialists.
But the budget tables have been revisedwith potential pluses and minuses for each partner, it comes back to us. The meeting scheduled for this Thursday noon therefore did not nothing of a formality. This is not a simple lunch between party presidents, but a meeting which could be prolonged, and which will have to determine whether it is possible to move forward on the basis of the major budgetary balances outlined in the new document, whether we are talking about tax reform, pension reform or the labor market.
Only if this green light is given can negotiations begin line by line on the super-note and thematic notes. And this stage, the suspense remains.
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**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Emma Verhoeven**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Verhoeven. As tensions rise in Belgian federal negotiations, what are your thoughts on Bart De Wever’s upcoming meeting with party leaders regarding the budget tables?
**Dr. Verhoeven:** Thank you for having me. Bart De Wever’s initiative to reconvene the party presidents is crucial at this stage. Given the current impasse, it’s essential to see if these discussions can rekindle momentum. The delay in negotiations has already raised concerns about productivity, especially with the 2025 fiscal targets looming ahead.
**Editor:** Indeed. Reports suggest that the party Vooruit is seeking a new “super-note,” which seems to be a sticking point. How significant is this demand?
**Dr. Verhoeven:** It’s quite significant. Vooruit’s push for a new framework indicates that they feel the current proposals do not adequately address their concerns or the overall equilibrium of the budget. They believe that without a more balanced approach, any agreement reached might be untenable in the long run.
**Editor:** Following the recent bilateral meetings, have there been any signs of progress among the parties involved?
**Dr. Verhoeven:** Yes, while the new working document hasn’t introduced sweeping changes, it seems to have made some adjustments to better align with the expectations of all parties. The fact that technicians are analyzing this material suggests that there is a genuine effort to find common ground. However, the pressure remains high as the deadline approaches.
**Editor:** Speaking of deadlines, you mentioned earlier that an agreement is hoped for by the end of November or early December. What are the implications if they miss this timeline?
**Dr. Verhoeven:** Missing that deadline could have serious ramifications. It means that any necessary measures to restore public finances may be delayed, which could not only impact economic stability but also public trust in the government. Essentially, it could lead to a deeper fiscal crisis if the decisions are postponed any longer.
**Editor:** Lastly, how do you see this negotiation process evolving moving forward?
**Dr. Verhoeven:** I believe that if Bart De Wever can keep the lines of communication open and foster a collaborative spirit among the leaders, there is hope. However, the political landscape is delicate, and each party has its own constituents to consider. It will require a lot of negotiation and perhaps some compromises to move forward effectively.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Verhoeven, for your insights on this complex situation. We will be keeping a close eye on how these developments unfold.
**Dr. Verhoeven:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical time for Belgian politics, and I hope for constructive dialogue in the coming days.