PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“It has been a long road to get here. I commend the sustained and proactive efforts of PS leader Paul Magnette and sp.a leader Conner Rousseau. They have played a pivotal role in pulling Belgium out of the political crisis. Thanks to their engagement and considered negotiations, a new government with a progressive agenda has been formed. It is now time for it to get to work.
“Belgian socialists have led the debate on how to protect citizens, with better healthcare, more and better jobs, improved pensions, fair taxation, a better environment, and a host of other policies to revive the economy following COVID-19. We are very pleased that our colleagues in PS and sp.a are now well placed to put this into action. We look forward to their new role and we encourage the whole government to get behind the socialist push for a recovery based on sustainability and fairness.”
The new federal government took office on 1 October 2020 with Belgian socialists holding key positions: Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Labour; Frank Vandenbroucke (sp.a) is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health; Ludivine Dedonder (PS) is Minister of Defence; Karine Lalieux (PS) is Minister of Pensions and Social Integration, in charge of People with disabilities and the fight against poverty; Meryame Kitir (sp.a) is Minister of Development Cooperation, in charge of Large Cities; and, Thomas Dermine (PS) is Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments, in charge of Science Policy, Deputy Minister of the Economy and Labour.
Eliane Tillieux (PS) becomes president of the Federal Chamber, the first woman to hold the position.
