Belgium Forms New Government with Flemish Nationalist Bart De Wever as Prime Minister
Five-party coalition ends months of negotiations, with Bart De Wever leading Belgium's new government amidst significant political divisions.
Belgium has formed a new coalition government following months of complex negotiations, with Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever set to become the country's next prime minister.
The coalition, which includes De Wever's right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the Francophone center-right Reformist Movement (MR), the centrist Les Engagés, the Christian Democrat and Flemish Party, and the center-left Flemish Vooruit party, was finalized late Friday.
The talks, which began after Belgium's June election, were delayed multiple times due to disagreements on budgetary matters, leading to an ultimatum from King Philippe to form a government by the end of January.
Despite these challenges, negotiators managed to secure a deal after intense discussions.
De Wever's N-VA, which advocates for Flemish independence or confederalism, now faces the task of addressing Belgium's outstanding issues, including pension, tax, and labor reforms.
However, tensions remain, particularly in Brussels, where language group representation disputes are still unresolved.
While Belgium's caretaker government, led by Flemish Liberal Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, has been in place since the election, the new coalition will need to address several critical tasks, including missed deadlines for appointing a European commissioner and presenting a budget plan to the European Commission.
The coalition, which includes De Wever's right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the Francophone center-right Reformist Movement (MR), the centrist Les Engagés, the Christian Democrat and Flemish Party, and the center-left Flemish Vooruit party, was finalized late Friday.
The talks, which began after Belgium's June election, were delayed multiple times due to disagreements on budgetary matters, leading to an ultimatum from King Philippe to form a government by the end of January.
Despite these challenges, negotiators managed to secure a deal after intense discussions.
De Wever's N-VA, which advocates for Flemish independence or confederalism, now faces the task of addressing Belgium's outstanding issues, including pension, tax, and labor reforms.
However, tensions remain, particularly in Brussels, where language group representation disputes are still unresolved.
While Belgium's caretaker government, led by Flemish Liberal Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, has been in place since the election, the new coalition will need to address several critical tasks, including missed deadlines for appointing a European commissioner and presenting a budget plan to the European Commission.
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