Coalition deal finalized after months of negotiations

Bart De Wever has officially taken office as Belgium’s new prime minister, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape toward the right. His appointment follows an extensive period of coalition negotiations that lasted nearly seven months after the federal elections in June last year.

The coalition agreement was reached late on Friday, bringing an end to the protracted discussions. On Monday morning, De Wever was sworn into office before King Philippe, Belgium’s reigning monarch.

“I swear allegiance to the king,” he declared during the ceremony.

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Belgium’s complex political landscape

Belgium is known for its intricate political system, influenced by the division between Dutch- and French-speaking communities. The country holds the record for the longest government formation period, which lasted 541 days between 2010 and 2011.

This time, five political parties came together to form a coalition after the June elections failed to produce a decisive majority. De Wever’s conservative New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), which secured the highest number of seats, spearheaded the negotiations.

The new government comprises three parties from Dutch-speaking Flanders: De Wever’s N-VA, the centrist Christian Democrats, and the left-leaning Vooruit (Onward). From French-speaking Wallonia, the coalition includes the centrist Les Engagés and the center-right Reformist Movement. Collectively, the coalition holds a majority of 81 seats in Belgium’s 150-seat parliament.

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Who is Bart De Wever?

De Wever becomes the first nationalist from Dutch-speaking Flanders to serve as Belgium’s prime minister. The 54-year-old, who has softened his earlier calls for Flemish independence, took his oath at the royal palace in Brussels.

Since 2013, De Wever has served as the mayor of Antwerp and has been a vocal advocate for reducing social benefits and implementing pension reforms. These policy positions have already faced resistance from labor unions.

Leading up to the final agreement, De Wever had issued a firm deadline, warning that he would step away from negotiations if a deal was not reached by Friday. After an intense 60-hour negotiation session, coalition partners successfully drafted an 800-page agreement just in time.

A return to right-leaning governance

De Wever’s N-VA was previously part of a right-leaning coalition government from 2014 to 2018. He now succeeds Alexander De Croo, whose seven-party coalition required 493 days to form after the 2019 elections. De Croo continued to serve as caretaker prime minister following last year’s elections until the new government was established.

With De Wever at the helm, Belgium embarks on a new political chapter, one likely to focus on economic reforms and a shift in social policies. However, given Belgium’s history of complex political negotiations, his leadership will be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike.