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De Wever Granted More Time to Form Belgian Government

Belgian politician Bart De Wever receives additional time to form a government, facing challenges in reaching a consensus on tax policies.

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Dutch

Netherlands

PoliticsEuropean UnionNetherlandsGovernmentNegotiationsTaxesBelgium

N-VaCd&VMrVooruitOpen Vld

Bart De WeverKing FilipConner RousseauGeorges-Louis BouchezAlexander De Croo

What conditions did Vooruit set for returning to the negotiation table?: Vooruit stated they would return to negotiations if De Wever presents a better proposal. The plan is to focus solely on tax policies in the coming weeks, attempting to resolve the main conflict before proceeding with other government formation matters.
How much additional time did Bart De Wever receive to form a government?: Bart De Wever, leader of the N-VA party, was granted an extra two weeks by King Filip to form a Belgian government. He will use this time to renegotiate with parties who have yet to reach an agreement, primarily focusing on tax policies.
What is the main point of contention causing the delay in forming a government?: The main point of contention is tax policy, with Vooruit advocating for higher taxes on large fortunes and the MR opposing it. This disagreement led Vooruit to withdraw from negotiations, causing a significant impasse.
What event coincided with the continued stalemate in the Belgian government formation?: A documentary about Bart De Wever, titled "BDW Politiek Beest," premiered on the same day the government formation remained stalled, highlighting his pursuit of power and the complexities of Belgian politics. He stated in the film that 'luck lies in the pursuit of power'.
What are the alternative options for forming a government besides the current coalition negotiations?: A center-right government with Open VLD is another option, but it would only have a one-seat majority and is considered risky by other parties. The possibility of a temporary government to create a budget before new elections was also met with little enthusiasm.

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