Belgium Faces Government Crisis As Budget Talks Collapse
What Happened
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever is expected to offer his government’s resignation to King Philippe after overnight negotiations failed to produce agreement on the 2027 federal budget. His coalition has been divided over roughly €10 billion in spending cuts and tax increases aimed at bringing public finances under control. De Wever’s N-VA and liberal MR favour healthcare spending cuts, while socialist and centrist coalition partners have pushed for greater taxation of wealth.
Key Takeaways
Belgium is facing a potential government crisis, but De Wever’s resignation is not automatically final. King Philippe can decide how to handle the resignation, and the outcome remains developing.