Parliament set to reopen, with or without government in place
Flemish MPs will meet on Monday for the opening session of 2019-2020, even if no government has been formed following May’s elections
September Declaration to follow
If the government has been formed by 23 September, the plenary session will take place that afternoon and the morning of 25 September. On the agenda will be the opening of the session with elections for the Bureau – the committees responsible for the day-to-day running of parliament – Bureau chair Wilfried Vandaele’s speech, the swearing in of the new ministers and the September Declaration. This is the minister-president's annual address reflecting on the general situation in Flanders and on the budget for the coming year.
If, however, there is no government in place by that time – which is more likely – the session will discuss matters such as the election of the Bureau, and an ad hoc committee will meet on Wednesday. The committee will deal with questions the MPs wish to put to the outgoing Flemish government. It will be led by Vandaele, all topics can be addressed, and it will continue until a government is formed.
Photo: Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA
