Brussels, Belgium – After more than eight months of struggling to form a new regional government, Brussels formator on the French-speaking side, David Leisterh (MR), has resigned from his role. His departure marks the failure of a final, two-week-long push to overcome political stalemates that have left the capital without a functioning government.
Political Stalemate Deepens Amid Growing Challenges
Leisterh had set a self-imposed deadline of Friday to navigate the complex web of party politics, ideological divides, and linguistic balance issues.
However, his attempts to bridge the deep political gaps yielded no progress. Meanwhile, Brussels continues to grapple with significant challenges, including concerns over public safety and budgetary constraints.
The deadlock, while not entirely unexpected, remains a major concern. At the heart of the impasse is the long-standing refusal of the French-speaking Socialist Party (PS) to participate in a government that includes the Flemish nationalist N-VA party. The divide has persisted for months, with little sign of resolution.
Even recent drug-related shootings in Anderlecht—an issue many had hoped would prompt negotiators to set aside party disputes—have failed to bring the factions closer. Instead, tensions have escalated, leaving Brussels without a clear path forward.
Key Political Players and the Failed Negotiations
On the French-speaking side, the liberal Reformist Party (MR) secured the most votes in the June 2024 elections. Consequently, David Leisterh, MR’s Brussels leader, was appointed as formator and given the first opportunity to establish a coalition.
Initially, Leisterh successfully united his party with PS and Les Engagés (centrists) in the summer of 2024. This coalition gave the three parties a comfortable majority of 44 seats out of 72 in the Parliament for French speakers.
However, the situation took a turn when an agreement was finally reached on the Dutch-speaking side in November.
After months of difficult negotiations, formator Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) assembled a coalition comprising Groen, N-VA, Open VLD (liberals), and Vooruit (socialists), securing ten of the 17 seats allocated to Dutch speakers in the Brussels Parliament.
The inclusion of N-VA in the Dutch-speaking coalition proved to be a major sticking point. The PS party views N-VA as an anti-Brussels, right-wing nationalist party with racist undertones, and has refused to govern alongside it.
PS Brussels leader Ahmed Laaouej withdrew from negotiations following Van den Brandt’s coalition announcement and has not returned to the table.
Brussels N-VA negotiator Cieltje Van Achter criticized Laaouej’s refusal to engage, stating: “I absolutely do not understand why Mr. Laaouej persistently refuses to speak with me. Does he even know me? I have spent ten years in constructive opposition in Brussels – it is my capital as much as his.”
Prime Minister Calls for Resolution
On Thursday, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) addressed the crisis in Parliament, emphasizing that each language group must be responsible for forming its own coalition. “That is a constitutional reality that every language group must accept and respect,” he asserted.
De Wever urged Brussels politicians to act swiftly to establish a new government, warning that continued inaction would damage the city’s domestic and international reputation.
“It is time to bring order to the capital. The lax laissez-faire policy must end. The capital’s image is suffering. I call for a sense of responsibility from all parties involved.”
What Happens Next?
Under Belgium’s political system, if the leading party fails to form a government, the second-largest party takes over the negotiations. In this case, that responsibility would fall to PS, but the party has already made its reluctance clear.
Last week, PS Brussels MP and former Federal Minister Karine Lalieux dismissed the idea that Laaouej would assume the role of formator. Instead, she suggested appointing a mediator to break the deadlock.
The mediation approach had previously been employed at the federal level when negotiations stalled in late 2024, with King Philippe appointing Maxime Prévot (then leader of Les Engagés, now Foreign Affairs Minister) to bridge divides.
On Friday evening, an unexpected development saw Les Engagés and Groen announce their intention to restart negotiations independently.
“The step aside of David Leisterh as formator and PS’ refusal to take initiative confirm the unprecedented political impasse in which Brussels finds itself,” said Christophe De Beukelaer (Les Engagés) and Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) in a joint statement.
They pledged to “bring sufficient democratic parties to the negotiating table to form a Brussels government.” Their strategy is to encourage dialogue among parties without making preemptive assumptions about the final coalition makeup.
No New Elections, But a City in Limbo
The Belgian Constitution (Article 117) dictates that regional elections can only be held every five years, meaning Brussels cannot call new elections before June 2029. This leaves the city in a precarious political position with no clear resolution in sight.
Until a new government is formed, Brussels will continue to operate under a caretaker government. Outgoing ministers remain in place, ensuring that administrative tasks and essential services continue, though they are limited to executing previously decided policies and handling routine matters.
Meanwhile, the Brussels Parliament has been reshuffled according to the June 2024 election results and continues to function.
Financial Implications and Budgetary Constraints
Without an approved annual budget, the Brussels Government is relying on a system known as provisional twelfths to finance public spending.
This mechanism allows the government to allocate one-twelfth of the previous year’s budget each month, adjusted for inflation, to ensure the continuity of public services and salary payments for government employees.
Outgoing Brussels Budget Minister Sven Gatz (Open VLD) confirmed that he hopes the Brussels Parliament will approve the provisional twelfths for April to June during its March 21 session.
However, financial concerns are mounting. The Belfius bank recently reduced its cash credit line for the Brussels-Capital Region from €500 million to €200 million. While Gatz downplayed the immediate consequences, he acknowledged that it sends a “clear signal” urging a swift resolution to the political crisis.
Looking Ahead: A City at a Crossroads
As negotiations restart under new leadership, the fate of Brussels remains uncertain. The deep-rooted ideological differences between parties, especially regarding N-VA’s role in governance, continue to hinder progress.
With no possibility of new elections, the city must rely on political maneuvering and mediation to break the impasse. Whether the latest efforts led by Les Engagés and Groen will succeed where others have failed remains to be seen.
For now, Brussels remains in a state of political limbo, with mounting concerns over governance, financial stability, and public safety. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the capital’s political trajectory and the future of its leadership.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
