Yvan Verougstraete Leads Bold Push for MR-Free Center-Left Brussels Government

December 11, 2025
Yvan Verougstraete Leads Bold Push for MR-Free Center-Left Brussels Government
  • Access to the full analysis is restricted to subscribers, underscoring deeper political insights behind the plan.

  • Reaction to the proposal is mixed: MR’s Bouchez is disgruntled; Open VLD’s De Gucht doubts its viability without MR; Vlaams Belang and Flemish groups show varied responses, with some parties more favorable and others opposing a MR-free format.

  • The plan frames a Brussels center-left coalition excluding MR as the most realistic path to break the stalemate amid the regional crisis.

  • Support for the initiative comes from figures like Elke Van den Brandt and Vooruit, with discussions aiming to unite Groen, Vooruit, CD&V, PS, Ecolo, DéFI, Les Engagés, and potentially Open VLD later.

  • Critics note practical weaknesses, including a lack of clear francophone and Dutch-speaking camp agreement and the challenge of persuading potential partners such as Open VLD and Fouad Ahidar to reach a bare majority.

  • Any government must be stable and enjoy parliamentary and linguistic-majority support to implement reforms.

  • The core plan hinges on securing two Francophone independents, Fabian Maingain and Soulaimane El Mokadem.

  • Dalle signals urgent support to restore order and address budget pressures, signaling appetite for swift action.

  • The initiative is described as exploratory and potentially unstable, emerging 18 months after the June 2024 elections.

  • De Gucht remains skeptical, arguing the budget track record with MR undermines the odds of success without MR.

  • Yvan Verougstraete, president of Les Engagés, announces he will lead Brussels negotiations to form a center-left regional government without MR, citing the long impasse after more than 540 days of talks.

  • On the Dutch-speaking side, formateur seeks Open VLD backing, a move that has previously faced inflexibility.

Summary based on 9 sources


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