Belgium’s King Philippe refused Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s resignation Friday, asking him to “resume budget talks immediately” after they broke down earlier this week. De Wever offered his resignation to the king earlier this week after weekslong budget talks hit a deadlock. Since then, Philippe has met with the five party leaders who make up Belgium’s coalition government and concluded that there is still a possible path for them to agree under a De Wever premiership.
While the government is seeking to plug a €10 billion budget gap by 2029, coalition partners are at loggerheads over where to find the cash.Flemish Socialist party Vooruit is pushing for the highest earners to contribute more, but French-speaking center-right Reformist Movement has ruled that out, and also opposed reforming the value-added tax.De Wever, who had previously ruled out starting the new year with an emergency budget, this week confirmed that the country would have no choice but to fall back on it again. Under that system, the government can spend one-twelfth of the preceding year’s budget per month. The prime minister will meet the king again in 10 days on Nov. 16 to report on progress, the palace said.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
