BRUSSELS — Belgium has inaugurated a new prime minister, Bart De Wever, whose political agenda historically aimed at dismantling the nation’s structures to grant further autonomy to the northern region of Flanders, often at the expense of the other regions.
De Wever took his oath early on Monday while maintaining a steady gaze at King Philippe, the monarch he has often critiqued for embodying the traditional concept of Belgian unity. “I swear allegiance to the king,” he declared, illustrating the shifting political landscape where the fervent calls for Flemish independence have evolved into a more measured approach, focusing on achieving a renewed equilibrium among the Dutch-speaking Flanders, the French-speaking Wallonia, and the multilingual Brussels.
During a brief ceremony at the Royal Palace, both the prime minister and key ministers pledged their allegiance in Dutch and French. Many of the 15-member team reflecting both linguistic groups chose to communicate in their preferred language. De Wever shared his perspective with a local newspaper, emphasizing the importance of participation in governance. “You can’t sit on the sidelines and wait for a comprehensive system change. I never subscribed to that idea,” he mentioned, underscoring that by engaging in government, one could advocate for community needs. “If you refrain from participation, you remain empty-handed,” he added.
Language disputes have deeply influenced Belgian politics over the past century, with historical shifts moving from a French-dominated political scene to a more equitable distribution that acknowledges Flanders’ growing economic strength relative to the declining industrial capabilities of Wallonia. De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, takes over from Alexander De Croo, who has been functioning as a caretaker since last June’s elections. De Wever is expected to meet fellow European Union leaders at a summit in Brussels later on the same day.
The N-VA party has outlined its ambitions for the government, promising to streamline the budget, implement equitable social policies, enforce a stringent migration policy, reverse the nuclear phase-out, and boost safety investments. One aspect that immediately raised eyebrows was the gender representation within the cabinet. De Croo had achieved a near balance between men and women in his government; however, De Wever has included only three women in his 15-member team, with none holding the positions of vice premiers. Though he expressed disappointment regarding the representation, it was not a focal point during coalition negotiations.
De Wever’s coalition was formed after overcoming a seven-month stalemate by uniting five different parties. His opportunity to lead the coalition arose when the PS socialists, traditionally dominant in Wallonia, lost their longstanding authority, facilitating an alliance with the free-market MR party. In Flanders, the Vooruit socialist party will play a crucial role in ensuring that the essential elements of Belgium’s welfare system remain intact, particularly as the new government’s agenda indicates plans to cut social benefits to address the nation’s substantial budget deficit. With total national debt exceeding 100% of GDP, Belgium ranks among the least favorable in financial positioning within the 27-member EU.
With the backing of Vooruit, the coalition includes the francophone MR liberals, the centrist CD&V, and the Engages party, resulting in a combined control of 81 out of 150 seats in the House, thus establishing a solid majority. The protracted discussions to forge this coalition, however, have illustrated the inherent complexities in reconciling the distinct ideological divides among the participating parties.
