The ongoing negotiations for the formation of the federal government in Belgium have seen the N-VA proposing community-related measures that are perceived as provocations by Francophone parties.

Despite advice to Bart De Wever to adjust his approach and tone down institutional demands, it appears this message may not have been effectively communicated.

Recently, Georges-Louis Bouchez and Maxime Prévot, leaders of the MR and Engagés, confronted De Wever, firmly rejecting the controversial measures proposed by the N-VA.

Prévot emphasized that while there is a collective goal to improve Belgium's governance, it should not come at the expense of dismantling the federal state.

The prospective 'Arizona' coalition, which includes N-VA, MR, Engagés, CD&V, and Vooruit, currently lacks a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which is necessary to transfer federal competencies to regional entities.

Working groups addressing various issues have made significant progress, with party leaders set to tackle unresolved points following the municipal elections on October 13.

A negotiator remarked that if De Wever wishes to form a government, he must abandon institutional issues or risk returning to Antwerp.

To navigate these tensions, the N-VA has suggested 'delegating' federal competencies to regional authorities through cooperation agreements.

The N-VA's vision for cultural institutions includes regional management based on their location, with shared oversight in Brussels.

Among the N-VA's proposals are the regionalization of development cooperation, scientific policy, and federal cultural institutions.

The MR and Engagés are open to reforms that would require a two-thirds majority, but they insist that support must not come from extreme parties like Vlaams Belang or PTB.

Despite the pushback from other parties, the N-VA is expected to pursue some institutional 'trophies' from the negotiations, including the potential abolition of the Senate.