At the Royal Palace in Brussels, N-VA leader Bart De Wever took the oath on Monday morning as the new Prime Minister of Belgium. He succeeds the Liberal Alexander De Croo, who will be opposed in parliament for the time being – although he is expected to leave national politics. In addition to De Wever, King Filip also sworn in the fourteen ministers who are part of the center -right government.
Last Friday De Wever concluded a coalition agreement between five parties. In addition to his own conservative Flemish nationalists (N-VA), these are the French-speaking liberals (MR), French-speaking center party Les Engages, Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) and the Dutch-speaking socialists (Vooruit). In parliament they have a majority of 81 out of 150 seats. On Wednesday, Parliament will debate with the new prime minister about the coalition agreement, followed by a vote. Last weekend the members of the various coalition parties already approved the agreement – and therefore government participation.
Read also
Belgium has almost a new government and when supporting support is something historical: for the first time a Flemish nationalist prime minister
It is striking that Belgium will mainly be governed by white men in the coming five years. Of the fourteen ministers are four wife, they are all in the rear row of the group photo taken after the sworn. The five leaders of the coalition parties (all white men), all last weekend indicated a white man who may be Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of their party. With Prime Minister De Wever they form the so -called ‘core cabinet’, which usually makes the most important decisions.
‘Unexpected and pity’
The new Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden, who was passed to become a Deputy Prime Minister, finds it “not the image we have to give in 2025”. De Wever also mentioned the lack of diversity against the VRT Already “unexpected and a pity.” Yet he himself also appointed a white man as Deputy Prime Minister: Jan Jambon, who also gets finance and led the regional Flemish government with varying success. For example, the criticism in Belgian media is that he was not enough a leader figure at times when it was exciting in his Flemish government, for example in discussions about nitrogen.
This weekend it was expected that the French-speaking liberal George-Louis Bouchez, leader of the MR, would join the government. On Monday morning, the politician described in the press as “boisterous” and flamboyant “announced that he does not want to become a minister. Bouchez has put David Clarinval forward as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Work, Economy and Agriculture.
The leader of Les Engagés, Maxime Prévot, becomes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. On behalf of the Flemish socialists, Frank Vandenbroucke remains vice prime minister and Minister of Health. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Christian Democrats, Vincent van Peteghem, also remains in his position.
Read also
Bart De Wever must heal the ‘sick’ Belgium as a new prime minister
