The absence of a new Belgian government also means there is currently no fully-fledged budget for 2025. Since 1 January, the time-tested system of provisional twelfths has been used. Each month, the government is not allowed to spend more than one twelfth of last year's budget.
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Outgoing government wants to extend emergency budget to avoid shutdown
Colin Clapson
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A provisional budget is now valid until March 31, but the outgoing administration wants to extend that deadline until the end of June.
‘Even if the parties (negotiating the formation of a new government) reach an agreement by the end of this month, it is unfeasible to get the entire agreement approved in parliament by 31 March,’ Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal/Open VLD) told lawmakers.
‘The right thing to do is not to take any risks and prepare a new tranche of provisional twelfths. That is necessary to avoid a shutdown in public services.’ Without a budget, government services are not allowed to spend anything, nor can the salaries of government staff be paid.
Meanwhile, five-way talks on the formation of a new government continue with the parties trying to meet their self-imposed deadline of 31 January. Today, topics under discussion include defence and migration.