De Wever Switches to Bilateral Talks Amid Deep Budget Deadlock
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever turned to bilateral discussions with his deputy prime ministers on Wednesday to revive the stalled budget negotiations. The shift followed a failed core cabinet meeting on Tuesday, which ended without progress.
The government seeks to save 10 billion euros by 2030 to strengthen Belgium’s public finances. De Wever has set a Thursday deadline for an agreement, warning that if no deal is reached, he may go to the Palace to possibly offer his resignation to King Philippe.
The negotiations collapsed earlier than expected on Tuesday night, despite growing pressure from the prime minister. Several coalition members blamed the liberal MR party for obstructing progress.
“Relations between the partners have soured considerably,”
said one source familiar with the talks.
MR continues to resist a proposed VAT increase, a crucial element in De Wever’s savings plan. Their alternative proposals—deeper cuts to healthcare and the re-legalization of disposable vapes—were rejected by other parties as either unrealistic or unacceptable.
Tensions reportedly escalated when it emerged that MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez planned to deliver a speech to SME business leaders in East Flanders on Wednesday evening while negotiations remained deadlocked.
“Tuesday’s meeting resulted in a total eruption,”
said one insider, summarizing the heated atmosphere within the coalition.
Author’s Summary
Amid financial and political strain, Bart De Wever turned to bilateral talks to rescue Belgium’s stalled budget deal, facing fierce opposition and rising coalition tensions.