Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has offered his resignation to King Philippe after the governing coalition failed to reach an agreement on the 2027 budget.
De Wever met the King on Monday at the Royal Palace in Brussels, where he tendered his resignation following several weeks of unsuccessful negotiations among the coalition’s five parties.
However, King Philippe did not immediately decide whether to accept the resignation. Instead, he put the decision on hold and announced that he would hold consultations with the leaders of the coalition parties.
According to public broadcaster VRT, the disagreements mainly concern how to address the budget deficit, which stands at approximately €10 billion.
Negotiations have been stalled for weeks, with the parties unable to agree on the measures needed to secure the required savings.
De Wever had opposed the possibility of the country entering the new year with a provisional budget.
Under Belgium’s constitutional system, the King can refuse the Prime Minister’s resignation or postpone his decision, giving the parties more time to reach an agreement.
If the resignation is accepted, the government will continue operating with limited powers until a new political agreement is reached.
A similar crisis emerged at the end of 2025, when the government sought to identify approximately €10 billion in savings. Following negotiations, the coalition reached an agreement on €9.2 billion in savings.
