Belgium Reaches Governing Agreement After 236 Days, Bart De Wever Expected to Become Prime Minister
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Politics
January 31, 2025 22:30
brussels, belgium - After months of negotiations, a governing agreement has been reached in Belgium with Bart De Wever likely to become the country's prime minister.
Bart De Wever to Make History
After 236 days of negotiations, Belgium has finally reached a governing agreement with Bart De Wever from N-VA expected to be the next prime minister. This marks a historic moment as never before has a politician from a Flemish nationalist party become prime minister in the country.
The new coalition comprises five parties including the French-speaking liberals and christendemocrats, along with the Flemish christendemocrats, social democrats, and N-VA. Referred to as the 'Arizona coalition' by Belgians due to the colors of these political parties resembling the flag of the U.S. state of Arizona.
However, the challenges ahead are significant. The new Belgian government faces the daunting task of addressing the state's soaring debt and budget deficit, requiring over 20 billion euros to comply with European regulations. Moreover, Belgium lags far behind the NATO norm of 2% in defense investments.
Contentious debates have revolved around financial matters, with the French-speaking liberals opposing wealth tax measures while the social democrats advocate for heavier taxation on the affluent. Specifics of the agreement, including a strict migration policy and extensive austerity plans, are yet to be unveiled.