After months of negotiations, Belgium has reached an agreement to form a coalition government, with Bart De Wever of the conservative New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) set to become the country’s next prime minister.
The deal, struck by five parties on Friday, marks a historic moment as De Wever will be the first nationalist from Dutch-speaking Flanders to lead the country. Though previously advocating for Flemish independence, he has softened his stance in recent years.
De Wever celebrated the breakthrough by quoting Julius Caesar on social media, writing, “Alea iacta est! [the die is cast]”, alongside a photo of himself shaking hands with King Philippe.
Belgium, known for its complex political landscape, has a history of prolonged coalition talks, with a record 541-day deadlock in 2010-2011. This time, the negotiations dragged on since the June elections, mainly due to disagreements over the country’s budget deficit, which stood at 4.4% of GDP in 2023.
The coalition consists of three Dutch-speaking parties—N-VA, the centrist Christian Democrats, and the leftist Vooruit—alongside two French-speaking parties from Wallonia, the centrist Les Engagés and the centre-right Reformist Movement. Together, they secure an 81-seat majority in the 150-seat parliament.
To finalize the agreement, negotiators endured a 60-hour marathon session to resolve disputes over their extensive 800-page policy plan. De Wever, also the mayor of Antwerp since 2013, has pushed for social benefit cuts and pension reforms—proposals that have already drawn opposition from labor unions.
While Belgium remains one of seven EU nations facing disciplinary action for excessive deficits, De Wever is set to replace Alexander De Croo, whose outgoing seven-party coalition took 493 days to form in 2019-2020. De Croo has remained as caretaker prime minister since the June elections.
