Political parties in Belgium have reached an agreement to establish a broad coalition government, concluding months of negotiations following the federal elections held in June 2024. The new prime minister will be Bart De Wever, leader of the right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), which emerged victorious in the elections.
The coalition comprises five parties: the New Flemish Alliance, the Christian Democrats, the liberal Reformist Movement, and the Flemish Social Democrats. Collectively, they command an 81-seat majority in Belgium's 150-seat parliament.
Notably, the far-right Vlaams Belang party was excluded from the coalition discussions, despite having made significant gains in the June elections. The party's exclusion is attributed to its anti-immigration and anti-EU positions, as well as its separatist agenda.
The Royal Palace of Belgium confirmed that De Wever has reported the coalition agreement to the king, with his mandate extended until the new government is sworn in. The date for this swearing-in ceremony will be announced in due course.
This marks the first time a nationalist has assumed the role of prime minister in Belgium. De Wever, who has served as the mayor of Antwerp since 2013, has advocated for reductions in social benefits, reforms to the pension system, and stricter immigration policies.
“The die is cast,” De Wever stated on social media, sharing a photo from his meeting with the king.