541 days of political and institutional deadlock.
541 days of dashed hopes.
541 days of sterile debates and unanswered mobilisations.
541 days of seeing Brussels slide into an unprecedented institutional void and funding crisis.
541 days - a sad record.
We gave politicians time to reach an agreement. Plenty of time. But Brussels has run out of time.
As have the companies that worry about their future, and the 40,000 people who may soon lose their unemployment benefits.
As have the associations that sustain our Region day after day, and the artists, creators and people working in the cultural sector who keep the spirit of Brussels alive.
As have the young people and students who are still searching for reasons to hope and the elderly people who deserve stability and respect.
As have the academics whose thinking, doubts and imagination nourish our democracy.
As have the civil servants who have kept Brussels afloat without a fully functioning government for a year and a half.
As have the citizens who are disheartened by this pathetic spectacle.
This political inaction is now impacting our daily lives.
We have had enough. Brussels, our city, the capital of Belgium and of Europe, deserves better. The immense challenges that Brussels needs to tackle - economic, social, climatic and institutional - can no longer wait.
In the face of this paralysis, we, citizens of all generations, choose to undertake ambitious, joyful, creative and inclusive actions for Brussels. We no longer wish to count the days; instead we want to break the deadlock and breathe new life into our democracy.
1 December set a historic world record : the longest period during which a State or Region has gone without forming a fully operational government. We therefore gathered, at 12 noon on 1 December, in front of the Parliament, the house of all Brussels citizens, to show our determination: together, we whistled the end of this political playtime.
In the short term, we demand that the political leaders meet in a conclave as from 2 December and finally settle on a government agreement and a budgetary path. We are not asking for a perfect agreement, but one that enables the Region to protect what is essential, keep public services running and support those who keep Brussels going and the most vulnerable.
In the medium term, we shall not stop there. If no agreement emerges rapidly, we shall keep expressing, with force and creativity, our concerned love for Brussels, through bold democratic gestures, along with all the driving forces of the Region. We shall propose credible, civil-society based alternatives, so that the negotiations can reach a successful conclusion and a political and budgetary programme for Brussels can finally be established.
In the long term, Brussels needs not only oxygen but also a vision, as it approaches its 40th anniversary. We would therefore like to convene a Citizens’ Assembly to rethink together the political and institutional future of Brussels, beyond the current crisis.
We are determined citizens who are taking action - not against politicians, but hand-in-hand with them, to find a constructive solution for our Region and its inhabitants, who deserve better.
Together, we keep going and do not give up!
Signatories
*Marc Frère, Tom Bonte, Michael De Cock (directeur artistique KVS), Frederic Pivetta, Lisette Ma Neza, René Konings (directeur Voka Metropolitan), Piet Colruyt, Hassan Al Hilou, Grégoire de Hemptinne, Sara Lammens, Annemie Schaus (rectrice de l’ULB), Kim Oosterlinck, Sophie Buysse, Jan Danckaert (recteur de la VUB), Anaïs Carion, Emilie Van Haute (professeure à l’ULB), Maïté Meeûs, Karen Celis, Marion Alecian, Kristien Vermoesen, Adrien Nuttens, Lisa De Visscher, Gilles Debrun, Ward Verbakel, Noé Martens, Dave Sinardet (professor politieke wetenschappen (VUB/UCLouvain Bruxelles)), Melat Gebeyaw Nigussie, Adélaïde Charlier ( activiste pour la justice climatique, cofondatrice de THE BRIDGE), Christophe Slagmuylder, Pepijn Kennis, Hakima Darhmouch, Fatima Zibouh, Alexandre Helson, Lynn Tytgat, Philippe Van Parijs, David Van Reybrouck, Ben Eersels, Isabelle Dresse, Daniel Verougstraete, Lisa Isnard, Céline Romainville (professeure à l’UCLouvain), Céline Nieuwenhuys, Dimitri Meessen, Thierry Geerts, Nicolas Hemeleers, Frederik Lamote, Baptiste Buidin, Louise Hilditch, Bridie Nathanson, Thibaut Georgin, Olivier Legrain, Kertsen Geers, Peter de Caluwe (ex-directeur de La Monnaie), Thierry Brunfaut, Sebastien Deletaille, Pierre Thys, Philippe Lovens, Dirk Snauwaert, Alain Boriban, Sebastien D’Hondt, Driesen Liesbeth, Emmanuelle Ghislain, Alain Mayné, Zoé M.Frisvold, Vinz Kanté, Stanislas Van Wassenhove, Benoit Quittre, Olivier et Jonathan de cartier, Rémy Bonny, Celine Bouton, Nathalie Guillaume, Aurélie Cuvelier, Eric T’chatner, Xavier Rigo, Florence Pourtoi, Julien Chanteux, Jan Goossens, Olivier de brauwere, Xavier De wil, Camille Bosc, Marie-Cécile Jacques, Taoufik Amzile, Florence Deflandre, Yves Deflandre, Celine Roisin, Annabelle Van Nieuwenhuyse, Patrick Janssens van der maelen, Patrick Schobeens, Vincent Chaidron, Brigitte Neervoort, Leen De Spiegelaere (coordinatrice générale Zinneke), Alex Dini, Loredana Marchi, Tatiana Goetghebuer, François Pinchart, Pierre Pevée, Andrea Rea, Dirk Jacobs, Olivier van cauwelaert, Martin Nera, David Delestree, Nelson Charlier, Antoine Helson, Didier Nibelle, Emmanuel Andries, Frederic Sente, Chloé Dugenlhoeff, Valérie Paquot, Sophie Pochet, Nicolas Lambert, Anne-Sophie Noel, Jean-Louis Rossignon, Hortense de valroger, Kubra Can, Christophe Koninckx, Georgia Brooks, Nathalie Van Ypersele, Bernard Foccroulle, Eric Hollander, Valérie Janssens, Joelle Liberman, Philippe Drouillon, Tony Delcampe, Sire Kaba, Florence Grégoire, Vincent Truyens, Marc Lemaire, Amaury Leman, Nathan Stranart, Frederic Dufour, Frederic Chomé, George Blackman, Luc De weerdt, Anne-Laure Van der wielen, Jan Haemers, Sybille van den hove, Virginie Samyn, Isaline Desclee, Julien Pestiaux, Olivier Gevart, Hadewig (vic) De corte, Gilda Neiman, Luc Langer, Eloïse Lagrenée, Ayoub Bouda, Seppe Baeyens, Eva Kamanda, Alexandre Terlinden, Sebastien Morvan, Françoise Smets (rectrice de l’UClouvain), Isabelle Hachez, Pierre Mottet, Bas Smets, Luc Schuiten, Maxime van der meerschen, Marco Martiniello, Severine Vermeire, Audrez Hanard, Pitcho, Alexandre Roba, Pascal Durdu, Nicolas Henry, Rival CNN, Magalie Ronsmans, Eric Cortois, Serge Silber, Tessa de carters, Bertrand Dekock, Christophe Hardiquest, Ludovic Elens, Pascal Kemajou, Jean-Gabriel de conninck, Charlotte Résimont Hamon, Dominique Rigo, Cédric d’alcantara, Anne Pascale, Gregory Hassid, Gaelle Lefebvre, Emily Degand, Christine Gillis, Laurence Rigolet, Marek Hudon, Charlotte et Louis Dielens, Sebastien de Baere, Damaris Meyer, Pedro Correa, Christine Gillis, Arthur Lhoist, Eric Corijn, Françoise Tulkens, Cynthia Bolingo (vice-championne d’Europe du 400 m), Magali van Coppenolle, Christophe Hardiquest, Luc Schuiten, Pierre Mottet, Audret Hanard, Bernard Foccroule