Belgium's King Philippe has given formator Bart De Wever (N-VA) until 17 October – several days after the municipal elections on 13 October – to form the country's next Federal Government, the Royal Palace announced on Monday.
De Wever was expected for a meeting with the King at 11:30 on Monday to report on the progress he has made. After about half an hour, the extension was announced.
No significant strides have been towards a next Federal Government since De Wever's last visit to the Royal Palace. However, this was in line with expectations as parties have been reluctant to make big concessions that could cost them votes with the municipal elections just three weeks away.
Slow but steady?
De Wever was sent into the field on 2 September for the second time as formator, aiming to form a five-party government: Flemish rightwing N-VA, socialist Vooruit and Christian Democrats CD&V, and Francophone liberal MR and centrist Les Engagés.
Les Engagés leader Maxime Prévot had paved the way for this after De Wever's first attempt at finding a coalition agreement had failed over MR's refusal to make tax-related concessions towards Vooruit in his "socio-economic super-note."
Since then, negotiations have proceeded at a slower pace. Discussions within working groups are ongoing per theme every day, but the delegation leaders have so far only met to make working agreements. As De Wever put it last week: negotiations are proceeding at the pace of a local train rather than a high-speed one.
