On Monday, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever submitted his resignation amid an escalating budget crisis. King Philippe has yet to accept it. De Wever, a conservative Flemish nationalist, took office committed to resolving Belgium’s substantial budget challenges. However, he could not secure sufficient support from the other members of his five-party coalition for his proposed solutions. The Royal Palace has confirmed that De Wever’s resignation came “following the failure of budget negotiations within his government.”
King Philippe, who oversees the formation of national governments, is deliberating on the resignation. A statement from the palace reflected the King’s disappointment with the lack of an agreement on a credible budget that could effectively address the country’s pressing challenges. The King is scheduled to consult with party leaders from Tuesday onward before meeting with De Wever again at the palace on Friday.
Since taking office in February 2025, De Wever has been striving to finalise a budget agreement for 2027 by the end of December. Belgium is recognised as one of the most heavily indebted countries in the 27-member European Union, alongside France and Italy. Its debt burden has long been a concern, further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing energy crisis.
The European Commission projects Belgium’s debt will reach 110% of its gross domestic product this year. Furthermore, the accruing interest on this debt poses considerable challenges, especially as the government seeks to increase defence spending.
This governmental crisis unfolds against a backdrop of growing student protests and frequent strikes, including several coordinated national action days led by unions.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
