After more than 600 days of political stalemate, Brussels has finally established a regional government. The breakthrough came as seven political parties reached an agreement, effectively ending a lengthy period of negotiation that began earlier this week.
On Thursday evening, Georges-Louis Bouchez, the leader of the Francophone liberal Reformist Movement (MR), confirmed the development by posting a photo of white smoke on social media, a traditional signal of a conclave’s decision. In comments to the press, Bouchez expressed relief, stating,
“We are relieved that after more than 600 days we have a government again in the capital of Europe.”
He emphasized that all seven parties involved had successfully found common ground.
Brussels’ financial challenges
The Belgian capital had been without a regional government since the elections held in June 2024. The ongoing impasse had significant repercussions, particularly affecting the city’s financial stability. Currently, Brussels is grappling with an alarming €15 billion in debt, leading to widespread concerns about a potential financial crisis.
The parties that participated in the recent negotiations included the Francophone MR, the socialist PS, and centrist Les Engagés, along with the Flemish leftist Groen, the social democratic party Vooruit, the liberal Anders, and the conservative CD&V. The collaboration among such a diverse coalition highlights the complexity of Brussels’ political landscape.
Reactions from leadership
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever shared his cautious optimism while attending an informal summit of European leaders. He acknowledged the news of the new government, stating,
“I’ve seen the WhatsApp messages coming in about it. I mainly want to see what the agreement entails.”
De Wever also pointed out the urgent need for financial oversight, remarking, “the Brussels budget has completely gone off the rails.”
Belgium’s unique devolved governance structure means that each of its three regions—French-speaking Wallonia in the south, Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, and the bilingual Brussels region—operates under its own government, separate from the national administration. This complexity often complicates political consensus, as seen in the lengthy negotiations for Brussels’ new government.