In a significant political development, Belgium has formed a new coalition government, culminating months of complex negotiations. The agreement, reached late Friday, positions Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), to assume the role of the country’s prime minister.
Conner Rousseau, president of the socialist Vooruit party, expressed relief at the outcome, stating, “After seven long months, we finally have a government for the country.” He acknowledged the substantial challenges the coalition faced, highlighting the deep divisions that had to be overcome. Rousseau noted, “There will be a lot of fake news and a lot of criticism. But many people will be proud that we’re not afraid to make decisions.”
Challenges and negotiations
While the coalition agreement is a significant step forward, it still requires formal approval from the participating parties to finalize the coalition. The new government consists of five parties, including the right-wing N-VA, the Francophone center-right Reformist Movement (MR), the centrist Les Engagés, the Christian Democrat and Flemish Party, and the center-left Vooruit party. This coalition has been informally dubbed the “Arizona coalition,” reflecting the colors of the American state’s flag.
The journey to this coalition was fraught with difficulties, exacerbated by the results of the June elections, which saw the MR emerge victorious in the traditionally left-leaning Walloon region, while N-VA maintained its status in Flanders. These results raised hopes for bridging the linguistic divide in Belgium. However, negotiations were marred by repeated breakdowns, primarily due to budgetary disagreements.
As the deadline for forming a government loomed, Belgian King Philippe provided De Wever with several extensions, ultimately issuing an ultimatum to form a government by the end of January or risk new elections. Under this pressure, negotiators intensified their efforts, culminating in a breakthrough earlier this month.
Future implications
The coalition agreement was finally reached after extensive discussions held at the Royal Military Academy, near the EU institutions in Brussels. Initial plans to convene at Val Duchesse castle were scrapped due to logistical issues, including broken heating and shower facilities. The newly formed government will immediately face numerous challenges, having missed critical deadlines in areas such as selecting a European commissioner candidate and submitting budget plans to the European Commission for review.
Alexander De Croo, the outgoing caretaker Prime Minister, has been managing the country since the June elections. De Wever’s N-VA party advocates for greater autonomy for Flanders, historically pushing for independence but recently adopting a more confederal approach, aiming for significant regional autonomy within a minimal federal framework.
“A Flemish nationalist who’s moving into Rue de la Loi 16 [the prime minister’s official seat] — who has to represent Belgium … I’d struggle with that,” Jan Peumans, former president of the Flemish parliament, remarked, pondering whether “to save Belgium is also, in part, to save Flanders.”
As the new government prepares to tackle Belgium’s budget deficit through necessary reforms in taxes, labor, and pensions, tensions over linguistic representation could arise, particularly in Brussels, where governance remains unresolved. Negotiators in the Brussels region have been unable to establish a governing coalition, with divisions between the French-speaking MR and the Dutch-speaking Greens continuing to hinder progress.
In this complex landscape, Ahmed Laaouej, leader of the Francophone Socialist Party in Brussels, has dismissed the possibility of collaborating with De Wever’s party, further complicating the already intricate negotiations concerning governance in the capital.