After a busy day at the EU summit on Bart De Wever's first day as Belgium's new Prime Minister, the new Federal Government is taking the last official hurdles before it can really get to work.
Traditionally, the new Prime Minister is expected to deliver a government declaration in the Federal Parliament on the day that he or she is sworn in by the King, but this was postponed to Tuesday due to the EU summit on Monday.
De Wever and his government are expected in the Federal Parliament at around 14:20 on Tuesday for the traditional group photo on the steps of the Chamber. Afterwards, they all will take the oath of office.
Afterwards, at 15:00, the new PM will give his traditional government declaration outlining the main policy points for the new Federal Government.
Speeches, debates and a vote of confidence
On the same day, the annual New Year's speech and reception for the so-called "constituted bodies" is scheduled. For this speech, government members, state ministers and other prominent figures will then be received by the King at the Royal Palace. In addition to the King, De Wever will also give an address.
Remarkably, this reception was supposed to take place earlier this year, but was postponed because the King was keen to have the new Prime Minister present. However, the slow-paced formation process got in the way.
On Wednesday, the first debate between the new majority and the opposition will take place in Parliament – allowing MPs to reply to De Wever's policy statement from the day before and ask questions. In turn, De Wever will respond.
N-VA's Bart De Wever pictured during a plenary session of the Chamber at the Federal Parliament in Brussels on Thursday 12 December 2024. Credit: Belga / James Arthur Gekiere
After De Wever, MPs can also question the other newly-appointed ministers. The debates will likely to extend late into the evening.
On Thursday, 48 hours after the government statement at the earliest (expected around 16:30), the 150 MPs in Parliament are allowed to vote on the confidence motion. With right-wing N-VA, liberals MR, socialists Vooruit, Christian Democrats CD&V and centrists Les Engagés, the new 'Arizona' government has a comfortable majority of 81 seats. This means that the vote is expected to be no more than a formality.
Once they have officially received the Parliament's confidence, the De Wever government can really get to work.
What will the Federal Government's main points be?
De Wever will outline the Arizona coalition's spearheads in his government declaration on Tuesday afternoon. However, several issues – such as defence, migration and the budget – were already raised on his first day on Monday.
On the margins of the EU summit, De Wever was repeatedly asked about Belgium's defence spending on NATO commitments. He made it clear that he aims to get Belgium to the 2% of GDP threshold by 2029.
"It is a mistake to think that Europe can or should defend itself alone. I'm an Atlanticist: we must continue the alliance with the United States," De Wever said. He admitted that the situation with Trump would be "a challenge."
"But you always have to look at the long term and I think this alliance is important. Having said that, Europe needs to strengthen its own defence position in NATO," he said.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever talks to the press as he arrives for an Informal EU leaders' retreat to discuss European defence, in Brussels, Monday 3 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
Additionally, De Wever made it clear that Belgium will evolve towards a stricter policy on immigration within the legal EU framework. "The population has demanded that we shift towards stricter policies, and that is exactly what we will do."
In terms of Belgium's role in the EU, De Wever stressed that he and his Flemish-nationalist N-VA party have questions concerning the functioning of the EU, but they are not Eurosceptic.
"We think the competitiveness of our economy is very important. We also want to reduce Europe's excessive regulations to more realistic proportions in that respect, but these are not attitudes that are anti-European," he told reporters. "Quite the contrary, in fact."
In the government negotiations over the past months, De Wever made it clear that the planned tax, pensions and labour market reforms would be the main focus points for this coalition, with the aim of getting the country's budget back on track.
