Belgium: Budget Talks Collapse Again, PM De Wever Expected to Offer Government's Resignation to King
The Belgian government early on Monday, November 2, again failed to reach an agreement on next year's budget, triggering a possible government crisis as Prime Minister Bart De Wever is likely to offer his resignation, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reported. Reuters reported the development citing the paper.
The governing coalition has been arguing for months over €10 billion ($11.2 billion) in budget cuts and tax increases that De Wever says are needed to keep state finances in check. De Wever was set to meet Belgian King Philippe later on Monday to hand in the resignation of his government, sources told De Tijd. The king would likely not immediately accept the resignation, the paper said.
The split runs over the path to savings: De Wever's Flemish nationalist N-VA and the liberal MR are seeking cuts in healthcare spending, while their socialist and centrist coalition partners have demanded higher wealth taxes. Interest rates on Belgian government bonds have risen sharply in recent months.
De Wever has warned that a looming debt and interest-cost spiral would force the government to borrow money only to pay the interest on existing loans. As of publication, the Belgian government had not formally announced a resignation, and the next steps depend on the King's decision and consultations among the parties.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 照片：比利时布鲁塞尔王宫，Daniel Huet 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC0 授权 / Photo: Royal Palace of Brussels, Belgium, by Daniel Huet, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
