Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the MR party, will not join Bart De Wever’s new federal government, prioritizing party stability over a ministerial role. 4 MR members received positions, including David Clarinval as Deputy Prime Minister.
Francophone Liberal Party MR chief Georges-Louis Bouchez confirmed that he wouldn’t be joining the new Bart De Wever-led federal government. This news comes at a time when the government is getting ready to finalise the list of new ministers. The ministers are set to be sworn in on Monday morning, February 3, 2025, at a ceremony at the Palace.
According to Bouchez, he would have liked to take a ministerial position. However, he believes it is important to keep stability within his party. He explained that being a minister and leading the party require full-time attention. He feels that appointing a temporary leader during this important time would not be respectful to the party and its members.
What does Bouchez’s decision mean for Belgium’s new government?
According to Bouchez, this process has faced many problems and delays. He is committed to ensuring the coalition agreements are followed, especially for the Brussels region. He mentioned that this decision comes after months of tough negotiations and political arguments about tax changes and coalition rules. Officials mentioned that Bouchez’s announcement answers one of the ongoing questions about forming the government and marks the last steps toward officially starting the new government.
“I would have chosen to enter this government,”
Bouchez said but his choice was determined by the stability of the party. A ministerial post and party leadership are full-time jobs, and appointing a temporary leader “would not be respectful”.
👉 Occuper de hautes fonctions politiques comme celle de Président de parti impose souvent à votre cerveau de lutter contre vos envies.
— Georges-L BOUCHEZ (@GLBouchez) February 3, 2025
✌️ Rejoindre personnellement ce gouvernement aurait été un immense honneur. Mais je dois encore contribuer à conclure les négociations… pic.twitter.com/hR0QuvNiAT
4 members of the Mouvement Réformateur (MR) party have been given important jobs in the new Belgian government. David Clarinval is now the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Work and Economy. He used to be the Minister for the Middle Classes and Agriculture.
Clarinval will work on policies for small businesses and broader economic reforms. Bernard Quintin will take on the role of Interior Minister. He briefly held the Foreign Affairs position before. Officials mentioned that this shift shows the government’s new focus on domestic security and governance as Belgium faces challenges with immigration and law enforcement.
The new Belgian cabinet has added 2 newcomers from the Mouvement Réformateur (MR) party. Mathieu Bihet is now the Minister of Energy. He will help guide Belgium’s energy plans during important discussions about energy independence and sustainability. Éléonore Simonet has been appointed to handle Middle Classes and Agriculture. She will work on issues that affect the middle class and support farmers.
