“Brussels must be governed”

Nearly a year after the elections, the Brussels-Capital Region is still without a government. Flemish Minister for Brussels Cieltje Van Achter and Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten are sounding the alarm. “It’s deeply concerning that some aren’t even willing to sit down and discuss a text, to understand each other’s positions,” said Cieltje Van Achter on Villa Politica.

“Time to talk olicy”

Minister Van Achter called the ongoing deadlock “inexplicable” and “disastrous.” “For months now, it’s been all about jockeying for positions. That’s not how we build a majority. So let’s take a different approach—let’s talk content. Let’s at least identify where the real bottlenecks lie. Because right now, we honestly don’t even know.”

She responded positively to an initiative by the liberal MR party, which recently circulated a policy-focused discussion paper. “It’s actually a solid document. Of course we have some comments, but I truly hope we can finally start talking about substance. It’s been a year, and so far, very little of the conversation has focused on policy.”

Verstraeten: “The bleeding could be fatal”

Brussels N-VA leader Gilles Verstraeten also voiced deep concern about the region’s financial health during a session of the Finance and General Affairs Committee in the Brussels Parliament. With Brussels currently governed by a caretaker administration, he warned of the risks of continuing without a fully empowered government.

“We hope to stay within the twelfths rule this year, but we’re starting from a heavily deficit-ridden budget. We’re still taking on debt, and interest payments are rising fast. Brussels’ budgetary artery has been severed. A bit of pressure is being applied, but the bleeding continues—and that could prove fatal.”

Next week, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s will decide on Brussels’ credit rating. “For S&P, a debt ratio of 205% of revenues is still acceptable. But we’re projected to hit 242% by 2025—that’s well over the limit. A downgrade would make borrowing even more expensive. And that’s when the snowball effect really starts.”

Brussels deserves a way forward

Both politicians are calling on all parties to break the political stalemate. “A caretaker government can’t stitch up the wound—let alone begin the healing process,” said Verstraeten. “The longer we delay, the harder it becomes. That some parties refuse to even engage in talks is simply unacceptable.”

Van Achter concluded with a pointed appeal: “Let’s start the conversation—Brussels deserves a government.”