De Wever reconvenes core cabinet on 2027 budget as Vooruit resists proposed cuts

Prime Minister Bart De Wever is calling the federal core cabinet (kernkabinet) together again on Wednesday 28 October at around 19:00 to discuss the 2027 budget. Multiple government sources confirmed the meeting to Belga. It is the first such meeting since last Wednesday, 21 October.

The government is still looking for 10 billion euro in savings by 2029, which the country needs to stay out of the sights of financial markets. De Wever wants a budget agreement by early next week, at the latest the beginning of the week of 2 November. Technical experts have gone through the budget table in detail in recent days. Government insiders do not expect a breakthrough tonight and see a deal early next week as more likely.

Why the talks stalled

Last Wednesday the talks stalled after a 'no' from the Vooruit party, which wanted more time and was not convinced by the proposals. Vooruit chair Conner Rousseau wants smaller social cuts and a bigger effort from the 'strongest shoulders'. Vooruit deputy prime minister Frank Vandenbroucke had called an earlier draft 'overnight patchwork' and opposed rushing a deal.

Reports said De Wever wants to limit sick pay in time for employees with burn-out or moderate depression, a measure Vooruit opposes. After criticism from the socialist PS and the far-left PVDA/PTB, De Wever said the holiday pay of pensioners will not be abolished but may be temporarily not indexed.

Time pressure

Parliament must approve the budget laws before the end of the year. Chamber speaker Peter De Roover said on Monday this is still practically achievable but will be difficult. CD&V chair Sammy Mahdi said he was disappointed by Vooruit's stance and urged all five coalition parties to take responsibility to reach a deal quickly.

De Wever is also attending the 100th anniversary celebration of the employers' organisation Voka in Antwerp on Wednesday evening.

Zoo funding

Separately, the Flemish government will give the Antwerp ZOO and Planckendael 2 million euro a year for three years. This partly compensates a cut that cost the operator KMDA 3.4 million euro, but a shortfall of 1.4 million euro a year remains.