Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS698
2008-05-09 13:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
IN BELGIAN POLITICS, CARPE DIEM MEANS SEIZE THE
how-toVZCZCXRO9742 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHBS #0698 1301350 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091350Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7412 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000698
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: IN BELGIAN POLITICS, CARPE DIEM MEANS SEIZE THE
DELAY: POLITICAL CRISIS AVERTED AGAIN
REF: BRUSSELS 684
Classified By: POL/ECONCOUNS RICHARD EASON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000698
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: IN BELGIAN POLITICS, CARPE DIEM MEANS SEIZE THE
DELAY: POLITICAL CRISIS AVERTED AGAIN
REF: BRUSSELS 684
Classified By: POL/ECONCOUNS RICHARD EASON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) Summary: After much concerted effort, the governing
parties managed to avoid a political crisis over the
redistricting of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde (ref). The
extended maneuvers over B-H-V have tarnished the image of PM
Leterme and caused leaders of the major parties to lose face,
but they have bought additional time to reach agreement on
redistricting and other pending institutional issues. In the
meantime, the government coalition is holding, albeit
tenuously. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On May 8, despite protest from opposition parties,
the majority parties decided to delay discussion of B-H-V in
the House until the 2008 budget bill had been discussed and
adopted. Paty leaders turned to the B-H-V bill in the earl
hours of May 9, where it was put on the aenda for discussion
and a vote in plenary sesson. The procedural maneuvers
began, with the Francophone parties immediately submitting
amendments that must be forwarded to the Council of State for
legal opinion. In addition, the Francophone members of the
Brussels regional parliament submitted a "conflict of
interest" motion which automatically starts a 120-day
mandatory consultation period among the federal, regional and
community governments.
3. (SBU) The real negotiations on Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
and the other pending institutional issues will take place
outside this procedural framework, however, and will be
conducted informally among the Prime Minister, the Vice
Premiers and the majority party presidents. Leterme has set
a July 15 deadline to settle the issues, when he plans to
make a formal statement to Parliament.
4. (C) Comment: PM Leterme has lost face in this umpteenth
episode of the B-H-V saga, and political commentators are
having a field day speculating about his ability to lead the
government. But with much at stake for both Flemish and
Francophone party leaders, who have already lost standing
with their constituents, insiders have not ruled out a deal
by mid-summer. As one observer noted, Belgian institutional
reform deals have always resulted from a long, painstaking
process, and this latest attempt is no exception.
FOX
.
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: IN BELGIAN POLITICS, CARPE DIEM MEANS SEIZE THE
DELAY: POLITICAL CRISIS AVERTED AGAIN
REF: BRUSSELS 684
Classified By: POL/ECONCOUNS RICHARD EASON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) Summary: After much concerted effort, the governing
parties managed to avoid a political crisis over the
redistricting of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde (ref). The
extended maneuvers over B-H-V have tarnished the image of PM
Leterme and caused leaders of the major parties to lose face,
but they have bought additional time to reach agreement on
redistricting and other pending institutional issues. In the
meantime, the government coalition is holding, albeit
tenuously. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On May 8, despite protest from opposition parties,
the majority parties decided to delay discussion of B-H-V in
the House until the 2008 budget bill had been discussed and
adopted. Paty leaders turned to the B-H-V bill in the earl
hours of May 9, where it was put on the aenda for discussion
and a vote in plenary sesson. The procedural maneuvers
began, with the Francophone parties immediately submitting
amendments that must be forwarded to the Council of State for
legal opinion. In addition, the Francophone members of the
Brussels regional parliament submitted a "conflict of
interest" motion which automatically starts a 120-day
mandatory consultation period among the federal, regional and
community governments.
3. (SBU) The real negotiations on Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
and the other pending institutional issues will take place
outside this procedural framework, however, and will be
conducted informally among the Prime Minister, the Vice
Premiers and the majority party presidents. Leterme has set
a July 15 deadline to settle the issues, when he plans to
make a formal statement to Parliament.
4. (C) Comment: PM Leterme has lost face in this umpteenth
episode of the B-H-V saga, and political commentators are
having a field day speculating about his ability to lead the
government. But with much at stake for both Flemish and
Francophone party leaders, who have already lost standing
with their constituents, insiders have not ruled out a deal
by mid-summer. As one observer noted, Belgian institutional
reform deals have always resulted from a long, painstaking
process, and this latest attempt is no exception.
FOX
.