De Wever relieved of informateur duties

Informateur Bart De Wever (N-VA) met the King earlier today at the palace to hand in his final report on the weeks of discussions between political leaders on the possibilities of forming a Belgian government coalition. De Wever requested to be relieved of his duties of informateur, and the King granted his request.

De Wever did not succeed in shaping a centre-right coalition with N-VA, Flanders' CD&V and the French-speaking parties CDH and MR, after Christian democrats CDH turned down the starting note he presented yesterday.

The note made no mention of certain controversial N-VA proposals such as scrapping the annual index (which links wages and pay rises to the cost of living) or limiting unemployment benefits. Still, CDH president Benoît Lutgen announced that his party would not continue talks with N-VA. “The wolf has not turned into a sheep overnight,” Lutgen stated.

CDH’s refusal is based on mistrust of “the separatist” N-VA. Also, the French speaking Christian-democrats have linked their fate in the Brussels and Wallonia regional governments to the socialist PS of parting prime minister Elio Di Rupo. It is believed that CDH would rather see PS in the federal government as well, an option N-VA refuses.

It is feared that the events of the last 24 hours will usher in another political crisis that could lead to a lengthy period without a federal government. It is now up to King Philippe to decide the next move.

De Wever will probably be succeeded by a mediator of some kind. CD&V has announced that it would rather not take the lead yet in the federal government negotiations.