Belgium’s king rejects De Wever resignation, orders budget talks restarted
King Philippe of Belgium rejected Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s resignation on 6 November and told him to resume coalition budget talks immediately, AP and Politico Europe reported amid a deadlock over public finances.
Belgium’s King Philippe rejected Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s resignation on 6 November and asked him to restart budget negotiations at once, the Royal Palace said, according to AP and Politico Europe.
De Wever had offered to step down after the five-party governing coalition failed to agree a budget plan. The king met coalition party leaders, who reaffirmed their will to reach a sound multi-year budget.
De Wever remains in office and is expected to report progress; Politico Europe said a further update to the king was set for mid-November. Belgium’s public finances and coalition unity are under pressure as talks continue.
De Wever had handed in his resignation on Monday after budget talks broke down, and the king first said he was withholding his decision while he consulted coalition leaders. De Wever, a conservative Flemish nationalist who took office in February 2025, is struggling to broker agreement on the 2027 budget before 31 December. The European Commission forecasts Belgium’s debt at 110% of GDP this year, and AP noted the crisis comes amid student protests and strikes. De Wever will report back to the king on 16 November.