Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1011
2009-07-23 15:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
GOVERNMENTS IN WALLONIA AND BRUSSELS IN PLACE
how-toVZCZCXRO5245 RR RUEHC RUEHSD DE RUEHBS #1011/02 2041554 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 231554Z JUL 09 ZDK ZDK - RETRANS CYS' - GARBELLED - ZDK ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9244 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001011
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV BE
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENTS IN WALLONIA AND BRUSSELS IN PLACE
BRUSSELS 00001011 001.4 OF 002
New Walloon and Brdamaged the Socialist
Party's reputation, the coalition parties have reaQhed agreement on
a number of good governance Qrinciples. Ambitious plans for
limiting parliamentarians' right to hold more than one post atonce
(e.g. mayor and MP),and an Ecolo initiaQive to abolish the
provinces, will only be implemented with a delay of several years,
if at all. All the plans of the Francophone leader are handicapped
by the precarious budget sitQation in Wallonia and in Brussels.
NevertheleQs, Wallonia and the Francophone Community hope to balance
their books by the year 2015, i.e, by the end of the term of this
government.Q
Demotte in a dual capacity
--------------
3. The new Walloon regional government is composed of
Minister-President Rudy Demotte (PS),and incumbent ministers Andre
Antoine (CDH),Jean-Claude Marcourt (PS),and Benoit Lutgen (CDH).
The newcomers are Jean-Marc Nollet (Ecolo),Philippe Henry (Ecolo),
Paul Furlan (PS),and Eliane Tillieux (PS).
Whereas in Flanders economic and cultural and educational
competencies are merged in a single parliament, Francophone Belgium
still has a Walloon regional government dealing with economic
matters, and a Francophone Community government in charge of
cultural and educational affairs. To have better synergy and to
strengthen the bond between Wallonia and Brussels, a number of
ministers will operate in a dual capacity and be ministers in both
governments, as was the case during the previous five years.
Demotte will be Minister-President of the Francophone Community
Government, and the Walloon regional ministers Nollet, Antoine and
Marcourt will also serve in both governments. The other Francophone
Community ministers are Marie-Dominique Simonet (CDH),Fadila Laanan
(PS),and Evelyne Huytebroeck (Ecolo),who is also a minister in the
Brussels regional government.
Avoiding Linguistic Warfare
--------------
4. Since the Brussels regional government is composed of both
Francophone and Flemish political parties, the Brussels negotiators
sought to avoid linguistic fireworks. The document signed among the
six parties concentrates on public transportation, housing, and ways
to deal with the worrying unemployment rate in the capital region.
Brussels has in recent years had a demographic boost due to
immigration, and scores of young immigrants have great problems
finding jobs. This is the fourth Brussels regional government
headed by Charles Picque (PS). Benoit Cerexhe (CDH) and Huytebroeck
are the other ministerial mainstays of the team. Emir Kir (PS) is
an incumbent minister who is immensely popular within the Turkish
community of Brussels. Brigitte Grouwels (CD&V) was junior minister
in the previous government, and her position is now being upgraded
to full minister. The newcomers to the Brussels government are:
Christos Doulkeridis (Ecolo),who conducted the coalition
negotiations for his party, Jean-Luc Vanraes (Open VLD),who
replaces Guy Van Hengel, who has been promoted to the rank of
vice-premier in the federal government, and Bruno De Lille, the
Flemish Green (Groen) minister in the Brussels government.
Di Rupo in command
--------------
5. In stark contrast with Flanders where the outgoing
Minister-President Kris Peeters chaired the regional government
formation talks, the agreement reached in Francophone Belgium is the
BRUSSELS 00001011 002.2 OF 002
joint handiwork of the party presidents Elio Di Rupo (PS),Joelle
Milquet (CDH) and Jean-Michel Javeau (Ecolo). Di Rupo has once
again demonstrated that he is the unchallenged political leader of
Francophone Belgium. Through Minister-Presidents Demotte and
Picque, Di Rupo will exercise real control over the Francophone
regional governments. The allocation of ministerial portfolios,
with ministers operating in two governments at once, is not only due
to the country's complex institutional makeup, but also reflects the
determination of the Francophone political leaders to strengthen the
institutional link between Wallonia and Brussels, or the
Wallonia-Brussels Federation as it is often called in the
Francophone political world.
BUSH
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV BE
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENTS IN WALLONIA AND BRUSSELS IN PLACE
BRUSSELS 00001011 001.4 OF 002
New Walloon and Brdamaged the Socialist
Party's reputation, the coalition parties have reaQhed agreement on
a number of good governance Qrinciples. Ambitious plans for
limiting parliamentarians' right to hold more than one post atonce
(e.g. mayor and MP),and an Ecolo initiaQive to abolish the
provinces, will only be implemented with a delay of several years,
if at all. All the plans of the Francophone leader are handicapped
by the precarious budget sitQation in Wallonia and in Brussels.
NevertheleQs, Wallonia and the Francophone Community hope to balance
their books by the year 2015, i.e, by the end of the term of this
government.Q
Demotte in a dual capacity
--------------
3. The new Walloon regional government is composed of
Minister-President Rudy Demotte (PS),and incumbent ministers Andre
Antoine (CDH),Jean-Claude Marcourt (PS),and Benoit Lutgen (CDH).
The newcomers are Jean-Marc Nollet (Ecolo),Philippe Henry (Ecolo),
Paul Furlan (PS),and Eliane Tillieux (PS).
Whereas in Flanders economic and cultural and educational
competencies are merged in a single parliament, Francophone Belgium
still has a Walloon regional government dealing with economic
matters, and a Francophone Community government in charge of
cultural and educational affairs. To have better synergy and to
strengthen the bond between Wallonia and Brussels, a number of
ministers will operate in a dual capacity and be ministers in both
governments, as was the case during the previous five years.
Demotte will be Minister-President of the Francophone Community
Government, and the Walloon regional ministers Nollet, Antoine and
Marcourt will also serve in both governments. The other Francophone
Community ministers are Marie-Dominique Simonet (CDH),Fadila Laanan
(PS),and Evelyne Huytebroeck (Ecolo),who is also a minister in the
Brussels regional government.
Avoiding Linguistic Warfare
--------------
4. Since the Brussels regional government is composed of both
Francophone and Flemish political parties, the Brussels negotiators
sought to avoid linguistic fireworks. The document signed among the
six parties concentrates on public transportation, housing, and ways
to deal with the worrying unemployment rate in the capital region.
Brussels has in recent years had a demographic boost due to
immigration, and scores of young immigrants have great problems
finding jobs. This is the fourth Brussels regional government
headed by Charles Picque (PS). Benoit Cerexhe (CDH) and Huytebroeck
are the other ministerial mainstays of the team. Emir Kir (PS) is
an incumbent minister who is immensely popular within the Turkish
community of Brussels. Brigitte Grouwels (CD&V) was junior minister
in the previous government, and her position is now being upgraded
to full minister. The newcomers to the Brussels government are:
Christos Doulkeridis (Ecolo),who conducted the coalition
negotiations for his party, Jean-Luc Vanraes (Open VLD),who
replaces Guy Van Hengel, who has been promoted to the rank of
vice-premier in the federal government, and Bruno De Lille, the
Flemish Green (Groen) minister in the Brussels government.
Di Rupo in command
--------------
5. In stark contrast with Flanders where the outgoing
Minister-President Kris Peeters chaired the regional government
formation talks, the agreement reached in Francophone Belgium is the
BRUSSELS 00001011 002.2 OF 002
joint handiwork of the party presidents Elio Di Rupo (PS),Joelle
Milquet (CDH) and Jean-Michel Javeau (Ecolo). Di Rupo has once
again demonstrated that he is the unchallenged political leader of
Francophone Belgium. Through Minister-Presidents Demotte and
Picque, Di Rupo will exercise real control over the Francophone
regional governments. The allocation of ministerial portfolios,
with ministers operating in two governments at once, is not only due
to the country's complex institutional makeup, but also reflects the
determination of the Francophone political leaders to strengthen the
institutional link between Wallonia and Brussels, or the
Wallonia-Brussels Federation as it is often called in the
Francophone political world.
BUSH