Overview
- Prime Minister Bart de Wever submitted his resignation to King Philippe on Monday after late-night talks failed to secure agreement on a €10 billion fiscal adjustment meant to close the 2027 budget gap.
- Negotiations broke down because coalition partners could not agree on specific measures, with MR vetoing a one-point VAT rise and Vooruit blocking proposed health-care cuts.
- Some coalition members proposed reducing the package to €8 billion but De Wever rejected that option, citing the risk of a downgrade to Belgium’s credit rating.
- The King can accept, reject or leave the resignation in suspense and will begin consultations with party leaders before meeting De Wever again later in the week.
- Street protests have already forced clashes with police and about 200 arrests in mid-October, and a national strike is planned for November 23, raising the risk of prolonged political and social disruption while the five-party 'Arizona' coalition navigates other disputes over defence spending and foreign-policy splits.