Belgium’s political crisis continues as the country faces the prospect of a sixth month without a new federal government.
Formator Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalist N-VA, remains in charge of negotiations, but frustration is mounting among several parties involved in the talks.
De Wever is expected to deliver another progress report to King Philippe on December 20, but the question on many minds is whether a government will be in place before Christmas.
On Tuesday, De Wever visited the Royal Palace following a meeting with party leaders from the ‘Arizona’ coalition, which includes the liberal MR, centrist Les Engagés, socialist Vooruit, and Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V).
The meeting was held amid growing tensions regarding the pace and direction of the negotiations.
While De Wever has been pushing for swift agreement on the budget, the other parties have expressed reluctance to commit to the budget figures without knowing the concrete reforms that would accompany them.
The parties involved in the talks have yet to reach a consensus on key issues, including reforms in the public sector, social security, and tax policy.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the mood has shifted from optimism to skepticism as the December 25 deadline approaches.
CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi and Vooruit negotiators Frank Vandenbroucke, who are both pushing for tough negotiations, warned earlier this week that if the parties want to meet their self-imposed Christmas deadline, they must engage in “seven days in seven, from dusk till dawn” discussions.
Despite the tension, the party leaders agreed on one thing: De Wever should remain at the helm of the negotiations.
This decision came after a series of behind-the-scenes discussions about his leadership methods, which some parties have criticized for being too focused on budgetary issues at the expense of broader political reforms.
However, no other leader has emerged as a potential replacement for De Wever, and the parties are reluctant to disrupt the process even amid ongoing challenges.
The parties involved are still keen on reaching an agreement before Christmas, but as negotiations drag on, doubts are creeping in about the feasibility of this timeline.
While De Wever is due to report back to the King on December 20, sources indicate that the negotiators are divided on whether the necessary agreements can be reached in the coming days.
The ongoing stalemate is a major test for Belgium’s political system, which has struggled with coalition-building since the May 2024 elections.
Despite a stable economy and the country’s strong international standing, the political gridlock has raised concerns about the impact on public services and Belgium’s ability to address pressing issues such as climate change, healthcare, and education reforms.
For now, the political scene remains in limbo, with all eyes on the December 20 report to King Philippe. Whether Belgium will see a new government before Christmas, or whether the deadlock will stretch into the new year, remains to be seen.
