Synopsis
Belgium's new government, led by Bart De Wever of the N-VA, has been sworn in after a prolonged political deadlock. The coalition, known as the Arizona alliance, includes five major parties and has outlined key priorities such as defense spending and healthcare reform.Key Takeaways
- New government sworn in
- Bart De Wever becomes Prime Minister
- Formation ends a political deadlock
- Arizona alliance comprises five parties
- Focus on defense, healthcare, asylum policies
Brussels, Feb 3 (NationPress) Belgium's newly appointed government was officially inaugurated on Monday, concluding a prolonged political stalemate regarding the establishment of a stable coalition.
Bart De Wever, head of the Flemish nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) that emerged victorious in the federal elections last June, has assumed the role of Prime Minister.
This signifies the first occasion where a Flemish nationalist has taken the helm of the federal government.
The swearing-in event occurred at the Royal Palace at 9 am local time (0800 GMT), during which De Wever and 14 ministers recited their oaths in front of King Philippe.
The new coalition, referred to as the 'Arizona' alliance, unites five key parties: the N-VA, the Flemish Christian Democrats, the socialist Vooruit, the French-speaking Reformist Movement, and the centrist Les Engages.
A consensus was reached by these five parties late on Friday after enduring months of challenging discussions concerning budget reductions, tax increases, and pension reforms aimed at stabilizing Belgium's public finances.
The Arizona coalition has also prioritized several issues, including enhanced defense expenditures, healthcare reforms, and more stringent asylum regulations, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The process of government formation in Belgium is frequently protracted, hindered by the country's economic, social, and administrative divisions across its three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital. The nation is equally divided into three linguistic communities: Dutch, French, and German, each possessing its own governmental structure.
Belgium's King Philippe had tasked Bart De Wever, President of the N-VA party, with the responsibility of forming the federal government in July 2024.
While acting as preformateur, De Wever garnered the support of four political parties willing to engage in coalition discussions, which included the Mouvement Reformateur (MR) and Les Engages on the French-speaking side, alongside the CD&V and Vooruit on the Dutch-speaking side.
Negotiations among the coalition parties encompassed a wide array of topics, including socio-economic recovery, investments in healthcare, enhancing the purchasing power of low-income individuals, and activating job seekers.
