Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Weber submitted his resignation to King Philippe following the failure of budget negotiations. The Brussels Times reports that the five coalition parties have not been able to agree on where to find €10 billion by 2029 to reduce the deficit. Some suggest raising taxes on the wealthiest, while others suggest cutting public spending, including on health care. De Weber met with the king on November 2, but the royal palace announced that Philip had not yet made a decision. Tomorrow he will meet with the heads of the coalition, and on November 6 he will receive the Prime Minister again. The king called on the politicians to find a compromise and avoid a prolonged crisis. Last year, Belgium's budget deficit already reached 5.2% of GDP - the highest in the Eurozone. De Weber has been prime minister since February 2025 and has continued military support for Ukraine, calling Russia's invasion a threat to Europe. However, in March 2026 he called for restoring relations with Moscow and acquiring Russian energy resources after the war. This has been criticized in the EU and within its coalition.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Weber submitted his resignation to King Philippe following the failure of budget negotiations. The Brussels Times reports that the five coalition parties have not been able to agree on where to find €10 billion by 2029 to reduce the deficit. Some suggest raising taxes on the wealthiest, while others suggest cutting public spending, including on health care. De Weber met with the king on November 2, but the royal palace announced that Philip had not yet made a decision. Tomorrow he will meet with the heads of the coalition, and on November 6 he will receive the Prime Minister again. The king called on the politicians to find a compromise and avoid a prolonged crisis. Last year, Belgium's budget deficit already reached 5.2% of GDP - the highest in the Eurozone. De Weber has been prime minister since February 2025 and has continued military support for Ukraine, calling Russia's invasion a threat to Europe. However, in March 2026 he called for restoring relations with Moscow and acquiring Russian energy resources after the war. This has been criticized in the EU and within its coalition.