De Wever’s five-party coalition has been struggling to reach an agreement on next year’s budget as the government seeks to generate €10 billion (approximately $11.6 billion) in savings by 2029 to reduce Belgium’s growing deficit. The latest round of negotiations collapsed just hours before the prime minister tendered his resignation.
In a statement, the royal palace said the king had decided to withhold his decision and would begin consultations with leaders of the coalition parties. It also warned that Belgium could not afford a prolonged political crisis, expressing concern over the government’s failure to agree on a credible budget.
“The king regrets the lack of agreement to give the country a credible budget that meets the current challenges,” the statement said, urging political leaders to demonstrate responsibility, prioritise the national interest and embrace compromise.
De Wever, a Flemish conservative, has led Belgium’s centre-right coalition since February 2025. He previously faced a similar budget crisis a year ago, when disagreements among coalition partners brought him close to resigning.
The government is seeking to reduce a budget deficit exceeding five per cent of gross domestic product through spending cuts and additional revenue measures. Its proposals largely involve reducing public expenditure, including healthcare spending, while increasing value-added tax.
However, the French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement (MR), one of the coalition partners, has opposed further tax increases, arguing that they could fuel inflation.
The budget dispute has also intensified amid growing opposition from trade unions, which have organised months of demonstrations against the government’s austerity policies. The protests have attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators, putting additional pressure on the coalition as it struggles to reach a compromise.
With the king’s consultations scheduled to begin, Belgium faces renewed political uncertainty as its leaders attempt to resolve the budget deadlock and prevent a prolonged government crisis.
