Belgian king refuses PM's resignation and asks him to resume budget negotiations

The Belgian King rejected Prime Minister Bart de Wever's resignation and urged him to resume budget negotiations with coalition parties. This decision follows de Wever's inability to reach an agreement on the budget. King Philippe met with leaders of the five coalition parties, who expressed their commitment to finalize budget negotiations swiftly. They agreed to make concessions to achieve a solid budgetary trajectory for the next three years. The King emphasized the need for a balance between social cohesion and economic growth. The coalition has been divided over measures to address a €10 billion budget deficit, with de Wever proposing an austerity package that faced significant public opposition.