King Philippe begins consultations as budget talks collapse
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King Philippe has begun meeting with party leaders to find a way out of the current political paralysis. The move follows Bart De Wever’s offer of resignation after he failed to secure a budget agreement, a collapse the domestic press has variously labeled powerless, irresponsible, and a living-dead government.
The King is currently withholding a decision on that resignation while he probes for a new majority. The opposition party Anders has already offered eight seats to break the impasse, provided the right measures are taken. It is a position some observers note De Wever could have reached three months ago.
While the federal government and the Flemish administration struggle to agree on a budget, they have also failed to agree on a temperature. As an energy-saving measure, public buildings in Flanders will set their thermostats to 20 degrees, while federal offices will remain at 19.