Belgium Forms New Government After Seven-Month Deadlock

Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever becomes prime minister, leading a five-party coalition tasked with addressing Belgium's budget deficit and regional divides.

Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, has been appointed Belgium’s new prime minister following protracted coalition negotiations lasting 236 days.
The five-party coalition, dubbed the 'Arizona coalition,' includes Flemish and Francophone parties spanning the political spectrum from left to right.
The coalition holds a majority of 81 seats in Belgium's 150-seat parliament, ensuring a stable governing framework after months of political uncertainty.
Key challenges for the new government include addressing Belgium's budget deficit, which exceeds 100% of GDP, and managing regional tensions between Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and multilingual Brussels.
De Wever’s appointment marks the first time a Flemish nationalist leads Belgium, with his party advocating for greater regional autonomy through a confederal model.