De Wever begins line-by-line budget review as talks fail
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Federal budget negotiations have reached a critical point, with talks concluding without an agreement. Prime Minister Bart De Wever is now reviewing the budget in detail, line by line, as the Vooruit party pushes for a resolution, suggesting an exhausting battle ahead for the governing 'Arizona' coalition. The ongoing political crisis is deepening as parties grapple with unresolved financial issues.
Meanwhile, the country is preparing for the first autumn storm, Austen, which is expected to bring winds of up to 100 km/h on Friday, with a Code Yellow alert issued across the country and a Code Orange along the coast. In Brussels, shopkeepers are expressing fears of potential looting and damage to their businesses ahead of planned weekend demonstrations, adding a new layer of concern to recent protest activity.
Other domestic news includes insights into housing prices in various neighborhoods, discussions around the persistent pay gap between men and women marked by 'Unequal Pay Day,' and a warning about a significant increase in pedestrian accidents linked to the transition to winter time.