Political, trade union and business leaders were quick to react to late Friday's breakthrough agreement on a new federal coalition government, brokered by Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) formateur Bart De Wever, although initial reactions varied somewhat.
Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) congratulated De Wever for succeeding in forming the new administration.
"After months of hard work and perseverance, this is an important step for the protection of our Flemish prosperity – crucial given the challenges ahead," Diependaele stated, adding that he looked forward to collaborating with the incoming government.
Wallonia's Minister-President, Adrien Dolimont (Mouvement Réformateur, MR), also expressed satisfaction at the agreement. “I am pleased to know that the formateur went to the Palace with a comprehensive agreement in hand," he said in a statement. "Cohesion between the different levels of government is essential, so this is excellent news for our country."
MR: 'The future is looking brighter tonight'
MR (French-speaking Liberals) described the pact as "the agreement the country needs," stressing on Instagram that the party "did not succumb to pressure" and "did not sign just for the sake of signing."
"We negotiated to secure an agreement proportional to our electoral victory on 9 June and to our promises," MR stated on Instagram, in a post shared by party leader Georges Bouchez. “The future is looking brighter tonight. For Belgium, for every Belgian. We are ready," it added.
Reacting to the agreement on social media platforms Bluesky and X, Parti Socialiste President Paul Magnette, said his party would "take the time to thoroughly examine their agreement.”
“We will scrutinise it meticulously and explain it constructively to everyone, while always proposing fairer alternatives,” added Magnette.
Open Vld: 'Not a good day for business'
Another opposition leader, Eva De Bleeker of the Flemish Liberal party Open Vld, criticised the agreement on X.
While acknowledging that few details of the agreement were known, De Bleeker noted that the coalition plans to introduce a wealth tax, which, she pointed out, was the only tax that did not previously exist in the country.
"We eagerly await the full details and budget tables," De Bleeker remarked. "But this is not a good day for those who work, save, and do business in this country."
Groen: 'Misery for the population
For his part, Groen party chairman Bart Dhondt claimed on Bluesky that the incoming administration promises little for the middle class and people already struggling to make ends meet.
Dhondt predicted that the new government’s decisions will have a significant impact on the entire population, especially retirees, job seekers and newcomers.
The new agreement “translates into misery and a higher risk of poverty for part of our population," Dhondt said, adding that he hopes for "more empathy and less arrogance when the agreement is presented and made into laws."
Vlaams Belang predicts loss of wealth for Flemish people
The extreme-right Vlaams Belang (VB) party vowed to fully embrace its role as leader of the opposition. Party leader Tom Van Grieken claimed that the government “is already showing signs of being one that will impose budget cuts on our people, increase migration, and result in stagnation."
"This government is a complete denial of the election results," VB charged, predicting that there will be no fundamental changes in migration policy. "The voters' message is being entirely ignored," it stated.
Vlaams Belang argued that the new government would lead to a loss of wealth for the Flemish people, and also criticised the lack of promised constitutional reforms.
ACLVB satisfied, CSC expects little joy for workers
Belgium’s trade union federations were also quick to react. The liberal ACLVB/CGSLB federation expressed satisfaction over the agreement, citing stability and policy continuity. However, it said it hoped the pact included the structural and balanced reforms needed to benefit workers and restore social equilibrium.
The federation promised to critically examine the agreement and to keep advocating for structural improvements favouring employees. "We want to collaborate on finding solutions, but we also expect our key points to be taken seriously," said Chairman Gert Truyens. "This is the moment to create a socially just and economically balanced policy."
On the other hand, the Christian ACV/CSC federation expected little joy for workers from the accord. While indicating that more information was needed on the decisions made, an ACV/CSC spokesman said that earlier leaks did not suggest that employees, pensioners, or job seekers have much to be happy about.
Chemical companies want lower energy costs and red tape
Also weighing in on the breathrough was the federation of Chemical companies in Belgium, Essenscia, which commented that the new federal government needed to do everything possible to promote sustainable economic growth and secure industrial employment and wealth creation.
The federation emphasised that it was still too early for a thorough analysis of the agreement. However, “ it is good news that, nearly eight months after the elections, a new federal government has been formed," it said. "This coalition appears ready to implement necessary reforms to improve the competitiveness of Belgian industry."
According to the chemical companies, there is an urgent need for "a decisive policy that positions Belgium as an attractive location for international investment." This can be achieved, Essenscia said, by reducing energy costs, stimulating innovation, and decreasing administrative burdens.
Coalition partners meet on Saturday and Sunday
The five partners in the coalition now need to convene and approve the agreement as well as the participation of their representatives in it.
Vooruit will start the meetings on Saturday at 5.00 p.m. in Sint-Niklaas, followed by the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie on Sunday at 10 a.m. in Antwerp and the Mouvement Réformateur in Brussels. Les Engagés will meet in Liège at 3:30 p.m., while the CD&V is also expected to meet on Sunday.
Formateur De Wever is expected to head the new government. The names of the future ministers will be known once the agreement is approved by the five parties.
