Belgian government talks at a standstill after resignation of key negotiator
Efforts to form a government in Belgium are at a deadlock after the negotiator appointed by the Royal Palace to build a coalition from the five parties that won in the June general election has stepped down.
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00:00Efforts to form a government in Belgium have stalled as the politician appointed to reach
00:08consensus on the coalition has resigned from the mandate.
00:12Bart de Wever led the Flemish National Party that won the most votes at the recent election
00:18and was tasked with forming a coalition.
00:22The Belgian Royal Palace confirmed on social media that King Philippe accepted de Wever's
00:27resignation on Thursday following a 19-minute discussion at the Palais Royal.
00:33Flemish media reports that before vacating the mandate, de Wever failed to find consensus
00:39among the five parties to agree to key Belgian policy planks, such as capital gains taxes.
00:47According to the royal statement, King Philippe will meet the party leaders to discuss other
00:52possible majorities.
00:55Belgium needs to form a government to file a federal budget to the European Commission
00:59by September 20.
01:01The country's longest period of running without an elected government was 592 days.