More than seven months after the parliamentary elections, Belgium has formed a new coalition government led by nationalist Bart De Wever.
On Monday, De Wever took the oath of office before King Philippe, whom he has long criticized for representing Belgian unity.
The agreement reached on Friday makes De Wever the first Flemish nationalist to lead the Belgian federal government.
De Wever’s Flemish nationalist N-VA party will govern alongside four other parties in a diverse five-party coalition.
The coalition includes the centrist Christian Democrats, the leftist Vooruit, the centre-right francophone Reformist Movement, and the centrist Les Engagés.
Despite his longstanding support for Flemish independence, De Wever has recently softened his stance on full secession.
Instead, he aims to decentralize power, granting more autonomy to Belgium’s regions, particularly in job market regulation.
He also wants Belgium’s ten provinces to have a stronger presence in diplomacy and global trade.
The new government leans strongly to the right, marking a significant political shift in Belgium.
De Wever pushed for social benefit cuts and pension reforms, sparking criticism from labour unions.
The coalition agreement prioritizes reducing public spending, reforming the labour market, and harmonizing pension systems between public and private sectors.
Despite facing potential resistance from coalition partners, De Wever remains committed to regionalist policies.
Hours after taking office, he joined EU leaders at a Brussels summit, where he emphasized tougher immigration policies—a stance aligned with many European counterparts.