King Philippe I of Belgium has refused to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Bart de Wever, which was submitted amid the collapse of federal budget negotiations. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official statement from the Belgian Monarchy published on the social network X. According to the Royal Palace, the decision was made on Friday, November 6, after the monarch held a series of consultations with the leaders of the five political forces forming the ruling majority in the Belgian government.
Resignation Amid Budgetary Impasse
Recall that on November 2, King Philippe received Bart de Wever in an audience, during which the head of government officially announced his intention to step down. The reason was unsuccessful negotiations on forming the 2027 federal budget: the prime minister's team failed to reach an agreement on a key issue — cutting budget expenditures, the volume of which was discussed at around 10 billion euros. This split within the coalition made the adoption of the financial plan impossible and led to the submission of the resignation letter.
The Monarch's Decision Following Talks with Five Parties
Following meetings with the leaders of the five majority parties, the king acknowledged their joint commitment to conclude budget negotiations as soon as possible. All leaders reaffirmed their determination to reach an agreement on a sustainable budgetary trajectory for the next three years. Thus, the monarch effectively returned De Wever to office by refusing his resignation and instructing the head of government to urgently resume consultations with political partners.
Party Commitments and Balance of Interests
The Belgian Monarchy's statement emphasizes that the king received an official commitment from the five party leaders to make concessions in order to reach an internal government agreement. Philippe I specifically noted the importance of maintaining a proper balance between supporting social cohesion and stimulating economic growth — two directions that essentially lie at the heart of the coalition's spending disagreements.
Timeline: Report to the Monarch on November 16
Following the resumed negotiations, the prime minister is required to personally report to the king on the results achieved by Monday, November 16. This creates a strict deadline for the renewed consultations: within the next two weeks, the coalition must lift the budget deadlock, otherwise the question of the government's fate may return to the agenda.
Context: Stance on Frozen Assets
It is separately noted that Bart de Wever recently stated publicly that the European Commission does not plan to propose new mechanisms for using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's needs. This statement fits into the broader context of European discussions on long-term funding for Kyiv and underscores that the Belgian budget crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of wider European disputes over fiscal policy and support for Ukraine.
