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De Wever hands resignation to Belgian king after budget talks collapse

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever offered his resignation after the coalition failed to settle its budget dispute. King Philippe kept the decision open and announced consultations with party leaders. The negotiations concern how to close a large budget gap; the palace has called for compromise as the government seeks a way through the deadlock.

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Over-the-shoulder view of a prime minister offering his resignation to the monarch at the Belgian royal palace after budget talks collapse; both figures have their faces concealed.

Resignation remains with the king

Prime Minister Bart De Wever presented his resignation to Belgium’s King Philippe on Monday after coalition budget negotiations broke down. The palace left its decision pending and said the king would meet the leaders of the governing parties. The resignation offer follows the failure of the governing partners to reach a budget agreement.[1], [2]

The consultations are due to begin the following day. De Wever spent more than 90 minutes at the palace before leaving. Under Belgian constitutional practice, a resignation can remain under consideration while coalition partners continue their negotiations; if it is accepted, the government can exercise limited caretaker powers until a new political arrangement is found.[1]

Coalition split over the budget gap

The five governing parties have been trying to settle the 2027 budget. Anadolu Agency, citing Belgian public broadcaster VRT, put the gap at 10 billion euros and described weeks of deadlock. The disagreements centred on Vooruit, the Flemish socialist party, and the Reformist Movement, a Francophone centre-right party. De Wever had ruled out beginning the next year under a provisional budget based on the previous spending framework.[1]

Last year brought an extension

A similar dispute near the end of last year prompted De Wever to ask the king for 50 extra days, rather than tender his resignation. The coalition subsequently agreed savings in November. This time he has formally offered to step down, with the palace’s consultations set to follow before a decision on that offer.[1]

References

  1. News sourceAnadolu AgencyDe Wever submits resignation; Belgian king defers decision↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News source21NewsDe Wever offers resignation; king holds decision↩
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