Belgian Prime Minister De Wever resigns after budget talks fail as king returns

Belgian King Philippe returned early from vacation to receive Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who decided to submit his government’s resignation. The coalition failed to agree on €10 billion in spending cuts.

Belgian King Philippe cut short his vacation, which was due to last until November 11, to receive Prime Minister Bart De Wever at the palace on Monday morning. The prime minister decided to submit his government’s resignation to the king after budget talks once again reached an impasse.

The restricted cabinet meeting began at 9 p.m. on Sunday and ended around 1 a.m. without an agreement. The five coalition parties failed to agree on savings measures worth approximately €10 billion by 2029.

Bart De Wever and King Philippe at the Royal Palace

Healthcare cuts versus a wealth tax

The prime minister’s Flemish nationalist N-VA party and French-speaking liberals from MR are insisting on cuts to healthcare spending. The socialists of Vooruit, Christian democrats from CD&V and centrists from Les Engagés are demanding that the wealthiest contribute more. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau raised the proposed contribution from affluent citizens to €1.5 billion, while De Wever capped it at €1 billion.

“If this is not a political crisis, then I don’t know what is,” said Bart Verhulst, a political analyst at Belgian public broadcaster VRT.

Journalists outside the Royal Palace in Brussels (VRT)

Two scenarios

Verhulst said the king could either accept the resignation, causing the government to fall, or take time to consider the decision and give De Wever another chance, as he did a year ago. Submitting a resignation does not automatically trigger early elections. In November 2025, De Wever asked the king for a delay in a similar situation, and the coalition agreed on €9.2 billion in savings on November 24.

Without an agreement, Belgium will enter the new year with a provisional budget under the rule of “twelfths,” in which monthly spending remains at the current year’s level. De Wever had previously said he would not allow that scenario.

Belgian Prime Minister De Wever resigns after budget talks fail as king returns