In brief
A coalition led by Bart De Wever aims to tackle pressing issues like pensions and migration.
After a seven-month standoff, Belgium has officially formed a coalition government, declared the monarchy. The agreement, reached on Friday, follows extensive negotiations over controversial social spending cuts and migration policies. Bart De Wever, head of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), is set to step into the role of prime minister, leading a coalition made up of his party, the liberal Reformist Movement, centrist Les Engagés, as well as the Flemish Socialist Party Vooruit and the Christian Democratic and Flemish party. This coalition emerged after the N-VA secured 17% of the electoral vote, defeating a far-right separatist party. With a relatively small population of just 12 million, Belgium faces significant challenges, including an aging demographic that impacts pension and healthcare systems. The country's budget deficit is projected to be around 4.6% of GDP, prompting urgency in addressing fiscal responsibilities within the framework set by European Union regulations. The new government has high stakes as it navigates these pressing issues that resonate beyond its borders, reflecting a broader challenge faced by many European democracies today.
