Belgian PM Bart De Wever Offers Resignation After Budget Talks Collapse

November 2, 2026

Brussels: The Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, submitted his resignation to King Philippe after failing to find an agreement on the budget. However, the King has not yet made a decision and will start consultations with the leaders of the governing coalition parties.

“It was announced that Bart De Wever had an audience with the King. After the failed budget negotiations Bart De Wever submitted his resignation. The King will take his time to make a decision and will start consultations with the majority party leaders from tomorrow,” the Belgian Royal Palace said in a statement on X.

King Philippe expressed his disappointment that there was no agreement over a credible budget to address the issues facing the country. He also said that Belgium could not afford to have a long-term political crisis in such an uncertain geopolitical and economic period.

The Royal Palace also said that the King made an appeal to all parties to remain responsible and place the general interest above political differences.

“The King thus makes an appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility and urges all involved parties to place the general interest and willingness to make compromises above everything else,” it said. Bart De Wever will return to see the King again on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Disagreement over tax increase

After failing to find an agreement with his ministers, Bart De Wever had an audience with King Philippe.

However, the talks failed as they could not agree on tax increases. Vooruit (Flemish social democrats), Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) and Les Engagés (Francophone centrists) advocated increasing taxes for those with the most money.

But the Francophone liberals and Flemish nationalists were heavily against the idea.

King to decide whether to accept resignation

Bart De Wever had an over an hour long meeting with King Philippe. He left the Royal Palace just after 11 am local time.

If the King accepts Bart De Wever’s resignation then a new electoral calendar will be announced. However, Belgium may form a new government based on the balance of power from the last elections, according to The Brussels Times.

On Friday, November 6, King Philippe will meet Bart De Wever and we may get more clarity on what will happen next.