02.11.2026 16:02
In Belgium, following the failure of coalition partners to agree in the 2027 budget negotiations, Prime Minister Bart De Wever submitted his government's resignation to King Philippe. It was reported that King Philippe suspended the resignation, giving the parties time for a new negotiation process. The inability to reach consensus on how to close the 10 billion euro deficit in the federal budget dragged the coalition called "Arizona" into crisis.
The complete deadlock in Belgium’s federal budget negotiations has brought the government to the brink of resignation. King Philippe’s decision to suspend rather than accept the resignation has given political parties a new period to reach a compromise.
PRIME MINISTER APPEARED BEFORE THE KING
Prime Minister Bart De Wever appeared before King Philippe at 09:30 local time and submitted his government’s resignation. After De Wever submitted his official resignation letter, an anxious wait began in the country. De Wever left the Royal Palace after the brief meeting.
THE KING SUSPENDED THE RESIGNATION
It was reported that King Philippe chose to suspend the resignation among the options of accepting, rejecting, or suspending it. With this decision, the parties were given time for a new negotiation process. Had the resignation been accepted, the country would have had to enter an election process within 40 days.
It was reported that King Philippe will meet with the chairpersons of the country’s main political parties at the palace tomorrow morning.
A 10 BILLION EURO DEFICIT CAUSED DISAGREEMENT
The crisis in the coalition arose because no common path could be found to close the 10 billion euro deficit in the federal budget. The negotiation meeting called “kern,” which lasted until late last night, also failed to produce a compromise.
It was reported that deep divisions emerged among coalition partners MR, Vooruit, and Les Engagés over issues such as taxes, public spending, and an additional tax on large fortunes.
TAXES OR SAVINGS?
It was stated that the Francophone Liberal Party MR found the tax increases on the table unacceptable and demanded structural savings measures. It was reported that the Flemish Socialist Party Vooruit and the former Francophone Christian Democratic party Les Engagés argued that large fortunes should contribute more to the budget. These differing approaches were cited as the main reason that pushed the coalition into crisis.
REACTION FROM THE OPPOSITION
The opposition party Ecolo described the Arizona coalition as “dogmatic and deadlocked.” The far-left party PTB, meanwhile, stated that De Wever’s resignation would not be regrettable and reported that they insist on their proposal to tax millionaires.