Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Various parties have opposed the N-VA leaders social and economic policy paper. While Flemish socialists now back it Francophone liberal Georges-Louis Bouchez disagrees with capital gains ideas that exclude socialists from negotiation talks. Adding Flemish liberals may grant them parliamentary power but not enough for committee membership. The uncertainty lingers on before Mr. De Wever’s Palace visit tomorrow.
The Flanders based National Party’s leader has already adjusted his paper on social and economic policy which went through several revisions since other groups at the negotiating table were dissatisfied originally anyway.When the Social Democrats in Flanders received the paper they originally said no but now refuse to give any specific reasons for this refusal.
Will Bouchez’s capital gains tax opposition ruin coalition talks?
The amended document is fine with the Flemish socialists. Georges-Louis Bouchez chairperson of the Francophone liberal party disapproves of its references on capital gains. People speculate that Bouchez may be attempting to cause a political impasse thereby excluding the left leaning from the negotiations and hence getting in their place Flemish Liberals. If they team up with the Flemish liberals instead of the Flemish socialists they would have just enough seats to make decisions in parliament. But if the Francophone and Flemish liberals Christian democrats and Flemish nationalists join forces they wouldn’t have enough seats in the important committees that review and change bills before they go to a full parliament vote. The Francophone liberals say they can make the same money without the capital gains tax but the other parties in the talks think Mr. Bouchez’s ideas are just not realistic
It seems like Les EngagĂ©s party is not sure where they stand. The issue is like a fight between the Francophone liberals and the Flemish socialists. The big deal is if they can fix things before Mr. De Wever’s next visit to the Palace tomorrow. It might be game over for the Flemish nationalist as the federal Formateur.
