After seven months of negotiations, Belgium has formed a new government. The coalition will be led by Bart De Wever from the New Flemish Alliance party.
The agreement was officially confirmed on January 31 by the Belgian monarchy, King Philippe, ending a prolonged political deadlock, which focused on proposed cuts to social spending and other contentious issues. Full details about the accord were yet to be officially released.
The new government is composed of parties from both the Flemish and Walloon regions. It includes the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), from which Bart De Wever originates, the liberal Reformist Movement and the centrist Les Engagés, two Francophone parties, as well as the Flemish socialist party Vooruit (Forward) and the party Christian Democratic and Flemish. Together, they hold an 81-seat majority in Belgium’s 150-seat parliament.
The royal palace confirmed an agreement for a right-wing coalition, which still requires formal approval from the members of the involved parties.
Bart De Wever is the leader of the conservative Flemish party, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), and has been its general chairman since 2004. He played a key role in establishing the party and shaping it into a leading political force in Flanders. De Wever’s vision was to make the N-VA the main representative of the 6.5 million Flemish people, advocating for their interests. Alongside his national political career, he has served in various parliamentary positions, including the Senate, and has been the mayor of Antwerp, Flanders’ largest city, since 2013.
We extend our sincere congratulations to Belgium on the successful conclusion of negotiations and the formation of a new government.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/world/europe/belgium-government-new-flemish-alliance.html
https://english.n-va.be/who-is-who/bart-de-wever
