Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever has formally submitted his resignation to King Philippe following the collapse of budget negotiations within the coalition government. De Wever arrived at the Royal Palace at 9:30 AM on Monday, November 2, 2026, to present his resignation after a late-night meeting of the government's core group failed to reach an agreement. The discussions centered on the 2027 budget and a proposal for a €10 billion adjustment through spending cuts or tax increases by 2029.
King Philippe, who interrupted his holiday in England to receive the Prime Minister, has not yet accepted the resignation. Instead, the monarch has opened a round of consultations with the leaders of the five parties comprising the coalition. The King emphasized that he is opposed to a prolonged political crisis during a period of significant geopolitical uncertainty and economic challenges. He called on all involved parties to prioritize the general interest and exercise responsibility, noting Belgium's history of lengthy government formation processes.
The negotiations failed despite the precarious state of Belgium's public finances, which currently face a deficit exceeding 5% of GDP and public debt surpassing 110% of GDP. Prime Minister De Wever had previously warned that financial markets were closely watching the country's situation. The proposed €10 billion adjustment was intended to supplement existing measures aimed at reducing the deficit to 3% by 2029, a goal that has already triggered several general strikes and mass protests throughout the current legislative term.
The coalition, known as the "Arizona" government due to the colors of its five constituent parties, includes De Wever's Flemish nationalist N-VA, the Christian Democrats (CD&V), the socialists Vooruit, the French-speaking centrists Les Engagés, and the center-right Reformist Movement (MR). This government was formed in January 2025 after a seven-month negotiation period. While the CD&V has called for an immediate resumption of talks to avoid creating new problems, opposition parties have been highly critical. The Walloon Socialists accused De Wever of protecting large fortunes at the expense of fiscal justice, while other opposition groups also condemned the situation.
This resignation marks the most severe crisis for the government since its inception in early 2025. Previous tensions had arisen in August 2025 when Vice Prime Minister Maxime Prévot threatened a government collapse over the administration's stance on Israel. The King is scheduled to begin formal consultations with the other coalition parties on Tuesday, with a new audience planned for De Wever on Friday.
Sources: El País Internacional.