Brussels Socialist Party Targets Balanced Budget in 10 Years, Seeks Left-Wing Coalition by 21 July
Brussels, The Gulf Observer: The Brussels Socialist Party (PS) has unveiled its vision for a balanced regional budget within a decade, as it leads efforts to form a left-wing governing coalition following last year’s regional elections. The plans were outlined in a memo circulated this week among potential partners, as reported by L’Echo and Le Soir on Friday.
In a bid to forge a progressive majority in the Brussels Region, the PS is engaging with several left-leaning parties, including the radical left PTB-PVDA, green parties Ecolo and Groen, Team Fouad Ahidar, and the Flemish socialists Vooruit. Notably absent from these talks are the Francophone liberals (MR), who were excluded from the preliminary discussions.
The memo shared with these parties sets out shared priorities and programmatic alignments. Key policy proposals include the development of an “ambitious employment policy” with a focus on enhanced support services and vocational training, urban renewal projects aimed at delivering accessible, high-quality housing in peaceful neighbourhoods, and a continuation of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) programme, albeit with a revised implementation schedule.
Another prominent feature of the memo is the call for a sweeping reform of Brussels’ political institutions, with a focus on reinforcing bilingualism and ensuring fair representation of linguistic minorities within the region.
PS officials hope to have a new governing coalition in place by 21 July, coinciding with Belgium’s National Day and marking over a year since the regional elections.
Meanwhile, the MR presented its own alternative vision in an 80-page programme this week, promoting a centre-right approach with a target to balance the budget in seven years. The MR has yet to secure coalition partners for its proposal.
With both left- and right-leaning forces actively working to shape the region’s future, the coming weeks are expected to be decisive in determining the political trajectory of Brussels.
