Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s so-called “final proposal” failed to reach an agreement despite six hours of discussions, and its presentation to parliament will be postponed again. The federal government in Belgium has once more been unable to agree on the budget plan for the coming years. On Monday evening, De Wever convened the core cabinet to present his “final proposal.” The package was discussed both in the full cabinet and in bilateral meetings between the Prime Minister and some deputy prime ministers; however, the meeting ended around 1:00 a.m. without a resolution.
The schedule slips again Although officials claim “progress is being made,” there are still too many issues to resolve. This means De Wever will not be able to present the budget to parliament on the originally planned date. Following a one-week delay granted last week, the schedule will now be postponed for a second time.
No signs of coalition breakdown None of the five coalition parties are threatening to bring down the government. The partners aim to conclude negotiations today or tomorrow. However, key items on the table, such as targeted savings measures, tax adjustments, and social spending lines, remain contentious.
