The Diependaele Government (Regering-Diependaele) is the Flemish Government formed and sworn in on 30 September 2024, following the 2024 Belgian regional elections and replacing the Jambon Government.
Diependaele Government | |
|---|---|
 Cabinet of Flanders | |
| Incumbent | |
 | |
| Date formed | 30 September 2024 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Philippe of Belgium |
| Head of government | Matthias Diependaele |
| No. of ministers | 9 |
| Member party | N-VA Vooruit CD&V |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| History | |
| Predecessor | Jambon |
The Government was formed following the 2024 Belgian government formation consisting of parties N-VA, Vooruit and CD&V, making up a majority of 65 seats in the 124 seat Flemish Parliament.
N-VA ministers are Matthias Diependaele, Zuhal Demir, Ben Weyts, Cieltje Van Achter and Annick De Ridder. Vooruit ministers are Caroline Gennez and Melissa Depraetere. CD&V ministers are Hilde Crevits and Jo Brouns.[1] As such, the cabinet is female-dominated, with only 3 male ministers (the minimum 1/3 required).
The main opposition parties are the far-right Vlaams Belang (VB), the Green party, the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld), and the Workers' Party (PVDA). Team Fouad Ahidar also holds a single seat in opposition.
Composition
editThe coalition replaced the Jambon Government following the 2024 Belgian federal election and again consisted of three parties, together having a narrow majority of 65 seats out of 124 seats total. The N-VA (31 seats) and CD&V (16 seats) were already part of the outgoing coalition, with Vooruit (18 seats) now replacing the Open Vld.
| Party | Name | Function | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N-VA | Matthias Diependaele | Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Innovation en Industry, External Affairs, Digitalisation, and Facility Management | |
| N-VA | Ben Weyts | Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Budget and Finance, Vlaamse Rand, Real Estate Heritage, and Animal Welfare | |
| Vooruit | Melissa Depraetere | Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Housing, Energy and Climate, Tourism, and Youth | |
| CD&V | Hilde Crevits | Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister of the Interior, Urban and Rural Policy, Society, Integration and Inclusion, Administration, Social Economy, and Marine Fishing | |
| N-VA | Zuhal Demir | Flemish Minister for Education, Justice, and Employment | |
| N-VA | Annick De Ridder | Flemish Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Ports, and Sport | |
| N-VA | Cieltje Van Achter | Flemish Minister for Brussels, and Media | |
| Vooruit | Caroline Gennez | Flemish minister for Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Culture, and Equal Opportunities | |
| CD&V | Jo Brouns | Flemish Minister for Agriculture and Environment | |
Policy
editThe coalition agreement, published on 30 September 2024, is titled "Working together toward a warm and prosperous Flanders" ("Samen werken aan een warm en welvarend Vlaanderen"). A few more concrete measures are:
- More priority is put on knowledge of the Dutch language: parents who refuse to learn Dutch could lose the Flemish school bonus
- Separate religion and ethics classes in state schools (Flemish Community schools) will be replaced with a course on "interphilosophical dialogue"
- The property registration tax for buying a house will be lowered from 3% to 2%.
The total Flemish Government budget is €65 billion annually. The majority is spent on education (€ 19 billion) and welfare (€ 17 billion).
References
edit- ^ Live Wetstraat | Demir op onderwijs, Gennez op Welzijn en Brouns op Omgeving. Lees hier de verdeling van de ministersposten, 29 September 2024, De Standaard