by Corneel Vanfleteren
published on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 2:41 PM •
4 min read
Liesbeth Homans (N-VA) will remain in post as Flemish Parliament President until the end of the year. That post should actually go to Vooruit, but that party does not want to “appoint someone arbitrarily”.
Key takeaways
- Vooruit wants to take its time to appoint a Flemish Parliament President.
- Homans receives praise from Vooruit chairman Conner Rousseau.
- The municipal elections can bring about shifts, which is also why Vooruit is waiting.
In the news: Liesbeth Homans will remain chairman of the Flemish Parliament for a while.
- When dividing powers in the new Flemish government, Vooruit will only have 2 ministers and N-VA 5, including Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA). In exchange, Vooruit may provide the new chairman of the Flemish Parliament. That was unexpected and the party has not yet appointed anyone.
- This will remain the case for the time being, confirms chairman Conner Rousseau (Vooruit) in the television news. “Not keeper balls “Shuffling posts is of no use to the Flemish.” Rousseau says he wants to focus on the transition from the old to the new Flemish government in the coming weeks.
- As a result, Liesbeth Homans will remain in post as chairman until the end of the year, a position she has held since the previous Jambon government took office. Rousseau has nothing but praise for her: “I think Mrs. Homans has proven in recent years that she has done that well. She is the right woman to guide that transition for a few more months.”
- It is unprecedented that a change does not take place immediately after the distribution of the posts. The municipal elections may have something to do with this, the news agency concludes Belgian. A number of contenders could soon disappear from the Flemish Parliament if they become mayor. For example, Hannes Anaf (Vooruit) is party leader in Turnhout.
- “Our group could look completely different within two weeks. So in the interest of continuity, we have chosen to let Homans stay on until the end of this year. This gives us time to place the right profile,” he signs Belgian at the party leadership of Vooruit.
“Just counting the posts”
The responses: The opposition is not happy with Vooruit’s postponement.
- Now that the government has been installed, the debate in the Flemish Parliament is opened. There is irritation from the opposition about Rousseau’s explanation. Party leader Tom Ongena (Open Vld) talks about a “disgrace”. “Parliament is not horse-trading,” he says. According to Ongena, it shows little respect for Homans to postpone the choice. She must now “keep the chair warm as an interim”.
- Party leader Chris Janssens (Vlaams Belang) agrees. “It is clear that only the posts count,” is his response. According to him, the position of speaker of parliament is now subordinated to providing mayors or ministers in the federal government. “If you argue for continuity,” he addresses Rousseau, “then let Mrs. Homans sit in that chair for another five years.”
- Groen co-chairman Jeremie Vaneeckhout also reacts sharply. “The presidency of the Flemish Parliament is not a consolation prize. This delay is incomprehensible.”
- Liesbeth Homans herself takes her place at the front to have the new Flemish government take the oath. She does this with a quip: “I will respond to Vooruit’s question, and before speculation starts: I will also remain a member of N-VA.”
