Belgium's new government was installed on Monday, almost eight months after an election won by the Flemish nationalist N-VA party. N-VA leader Bart De Wever was appointed as prime minister, marking the first time the federal Belgian government will be led by a Flemish nationalist.

The country’s tense negotiations hinged on taxing and social spending — and they highlight issues facing Europe, and Western democracies, as a whole.

Bart De Wever (L) is sworn in as Belgium's prime minister at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 3, 2025. Belgium's new government was sworn in on Monday, ending months of

Political parties in Belgium agreed on Friday to form a new government, the office of Belgian King Philippe said, ending almost eight months of complicated talks that followed the election victory of Flemish nationalist party N-VA.