Negotiators of the 5 Belgian political parties eager to form the next Belgian government have arrived at the Royal Military Academy, where talks have been in progress since Wednesday. Formateur and prime minister presumptive Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) has a date with King Filip on Friday and hopes to be able to deliver a federal coalition accord. If not, Mr De Wever says he intends to step down as formateur.
The 5 parties, Flemish nationalist N-VA, Christian democrat CD&V and socialist Vooruit and Francophone liberal MR and centrist Les Engagés, still have a full day and night to find a compromise.
Belgium went to the polls on 9 June 2024 and is still without a new federal government with full powers. In the months since the election PM Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal) soldiered on with a caretaker administration despite the heavy losses incurred by his Open VLD party.
The unusual location of the talks, the royal military academy, is no cause for alarm. The heating has broken down at Hertoginnedal Castle, Mr De Wever’s preferred venue. Some negotiators stayed overnight at the academy that is a military university where numerous members of the Belgian royal family have graduated and where hot showers are available.