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Belgium

What is happening there and why it matters.

So it makes sense

Belgium has spent years demonstrating what happens when a state splits into two language halves with their own parties, their own media and their own politics. Flanders and Wallonia vote so differently that forming a government takes months and sometimes more than a year. It is also the seat of the Union institutions, which creates an odd effect: „Brussels" is in the news daily, but almost never about Belgium.

Who governs
The prime minister is Bart De Wever (N-VA), leader of the Flemish nationalists, heading a coalition that spans the language divide. On the budget he is holding a line of cutting payroll charges and facing the question of where the money comes from. A long-running theme of his government is drug violence in Antwerp, which the socialists blame on the "Antwerp connection" inside the cabinet.
Who opposes
To the government’s right stands the far-right Vlaams Belang, long strong in Flanders. From the left it is pressed by Groen and the francophone socialists. Belgian opposition also breaks along language lines — Flemish and Walloon parties judge the same decision in opposite ways.
Next election
The next federal election is expected in 2029.

Context verified 4. 9. 2026. We update it when the government changes or an election comes — the news below is live.

What Belgian media say about themselves

last 4. 10. at 08:07
  • Rail strike planned for October 12, after bus and tram strikes — The ACOD unions announced an action day.
  • Antwerp: three people detained, had thousands of recordings of abuse of unconscious women — According to the media, the suspects drugged and raped at least three women.
  • Lachaert: Open Vld and CD&V held talks about a merger at the start of the Vivaldi government — The former liberal leader claims the talks were concrete.
  • Student unrest in Liège and Charleroi: dozens detained, 16-year-old ended up in IPPJ — Protests against school policy were accompanied by damage and arrests.
  • European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating former prime minister Guy Verhofstadt — It concerns a former prime minister and MEP.
  • Flemish savings hit municipalities: Geetbets, Zottegem and Sint-Niklaas rewrite multi-year plans — Sint-Niklaas has to plug a €16 million hole.
  • Brussels budget: ministers must decide on €120 million, talks still stuck — The conclave also went through a dispute between two ministers and continues on Sunday.
  • Federal budget: talks in the core cabinet without agreement, atmosphere "constructive" — De Wever wants to reach a deal by the end of the weekend, with the risk of a crisis in the Arizona coalition in the background.

How the neighbours see it

mentions of the country in media of surrounding states
  • Millions of contraceptives for Africa have been blocked in Belgium for over a year — French press writes that they are being blocked by a decision of the US.
  • Belgian potato farmer sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering daughters Maud and Ona — The Dutch press commented on the verdict.
  • Brussels joins Macron's initiative on "advanced" deterrence — According to the French press, Paris and Brussels agreed on this at a bilateral meeting.

What happened

2 reports over 14 days in 2 events

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