De Wever offers resignation after Belgian budget talks fail

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever went to meet King Philippe on November 2 after overnight coalition talks failed to produce a budget agreement, with contemporaneous reports saying he offered his government’s resignation. The Palace had not announced whether the King would accept it, defer a decision or ask the coalition to negotiate further. The breakdown followed months of disagreement among the five parties in the governing coalition over how to make roughly €10 billion in fiscal adjustments. The New Flemish Alliance and the liberal Reformist Movement pressed for spending cuts, while socialist Vooruit and centrist partners supported raising taxes on wealthy people or high earners. The Christian Democrats are also part of the coalition. The dispute has centered on the balance between spending reductions and new revenue, rather than the overall need to address public finances. Belgium’s deficit exceeded the European Union’s 3% limit in 2025, according to figures cited in reports, and the country is subject to the EU’s excessive deficit procedure. The coalition has been trying to agree on measures to bring the deficit below the limit by 2029. The King’s response would shape...