Philippe of Belgium
Photo: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 from Belgium, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- 7h ago
King Filip refuses De Wever's resignation and sends Belgian budget talks back to the table
Belgian King Filip rejected Bart De Wever's resignation on Friday, 6 November, and asked coalition parties to resume budget talks at once. Talks restart on Monday, 9 November, and MR chair Georges-Louis Bouchez may attend.
- 4d ago
Belgian king rejects PM De Wever's resignation and orders budget talks to resume
King Philippe refused the resignation of Prime Minister Bart De Wever and asked him to resume the 2027 budget negotiations. De Wever must report back to the king on Monday, 16 November, as the five-party coalition works to close a 10 billion euro savings gap.
- Nov 1
Belgian PM Bart De Wever offers resignation to King Philippe after budget talks fail
Prime Minister Bart De Wever went to the royal palace on 2 November 2026 to present his resignation to King Philippe after overnight coalition talks on a 10 billion euro budget package ended without a deal. King Philippe can accept it, refuse it or hold it in abeyance, and the coalition has until noon on 3 November to reach an agreement.
- Oct 28
Almost three in ten Belgian factory machines idle as capacity use hits 73%
The National Bank of Belgium puts manufacturing capacity use at 73% for the third quarter of 2026, the lowest since April 2020, as Vynova temporarily halts production over energy costs.
- Oct 25
Belgian heir Princess Elisabeth turns 25 with new portrait, stamp and gold coin
The Royal Palace released a new black-and-white portrait by Bas Bogaerts for Princess Elisabeth's 25th birthday on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Her year-long sabbatical follows a Harvard master's degree, and sources disagree on when her official duties will begin, either after summer 2027 or from 2028.
- Sep 24
Leaked Belgian foreign policy memo terms Trump's United States an unreliable ally
An internal Belgian Foreign Ministry strategy paper advises diplomats to diversify ties across US governors, mayors, and Congress after concluding that Donald Trump's administration threatens vital European interests.
- Sep 20
Éric Ciotti urges Bruno Retailleau to join Le Pen alliance for 2027 election
Speaking on BFMTV, UDR president Éric Ciotti called on LR candidate Bruno Retailleau to unite behind Marine Le Pen, while confirming he will remain mayor of Nice rather than take a cabinet role.
- Sep 18
Édouard Philippe proposes €2B climate adaptation fund and French water bombers in 2027 pitch
Horizons presidential candidate Édouard Philippe presented his climate adaptation plan in Maine-et-Loire on Thursday, pledging an annual €2 billion fund, rainwater storage infrastructure, and domestic water bomber manufacturing.
- Sep 12
Édouard Philippe defends presidential transition idea after rival backlash
Horizons presidential candidate Édouard Philippe defended remarks suggesting a four-month gap between presidential elections and inauguration, after political rivals including Gabriel Attal accused him of seeking extended vacation time.
- Sep 9
Édouard Philippe invites French right and centre rivals to 2027 unity talks as opponents reject proposal
Horizons leader Édouard Philippe proposed a November summit to unite centre-right parties for the 2027 presidential election, but rivals Gabriel Attal, Bruno Retailleau, and David Lisnard immediately declined.
- Sep 5
Jordan Bardella and Nigel Farage sign Channel migrant pact as Reform UK faces donation scandal
Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella joined Reform UK in Birmingham on 4 September to sign a migrant return agreement, while two senior Reform officials resigned over an undercover funding investigation.
- Aug 31
Marine Le Pen proposes referendum to ban and fine Islamic veil in French public spaces
National Rally lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy and party leader Marine Le Pen announced plans to fine women wearing headscarves in public spaces through a national referendum if elected in 2027, drawing widespread criticism from rivals.
- Aug 30
Édouard Philippe proposes centre-right confederation as Gérald Darmanin endorses presidential bid
At a political gathering in Tourcoing on 30 August 2026, former prime minister Édouard Philippe and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin called for a unified centre-right front, proposing joint constituency candidates for the next legislative elections.
- Aug 26
Seven French presidential candidates clash over wages, debt and pensions at MEDEF debate
Seven contenders for the 2027 French presidential election debated wages, public debt and pensions before 6,000 business leaders at Roland-Garros on Thursday.
- Aug 26
France's CFDT union refuses 2027 presidential talks with far-right National Rally
CFDT leader Marylise Léon announced the union will maintain a cordon sanitaire and boycott Marine Le Pen ahead of the 2027 French presidential race, while proposing an inheritance tax from the first euro.
- Aug 24
Édouard Philippe proposes 20% teacher pay raise and parental fines for 2027 presidential bid
Horizons party presidential candidate Édouard Philippe outlined his education platform in an interview published on 24 August 2026, pledging a 20% average pay rise for teachers alongside new parental fines and school calendar autonomy.
- Aug 24
Poll shows Mélenchon contending for 2027 French runoff as Le Pen dominates
A Harris Interactive-Toluna survey shows Jean-Luc Mélenchon reaching the presidential second round in three of five scenarios, though Marine Le Pen wins every runoff matchup.
- Aug 23
Bruno Le Maire publishes 60-page manifesto outlining proposals for 2027 presidential election
Former French economy minister Bruno Le Maire has released a 60-page platform proposing state spending cuts, pension de-indexation, and a six-nation European federation ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
- Aug 22
Édouard Philippe proposes right-centre alliance by February for 2027 presidential race
Horizons party leader Édouard Philippe called for uniting French centre and right candidates between November and February, while unveiling hardline immigration proposals during a campaign tour in Mayotte.
- Aug 22
French Greens debate 2027 presidential unity at Grenoble summer gathering
Around 1,000 members of Les Écologistes gathered in Grenoble to debate their 2027 presidential strategy, balancing party leader Marine Tondelier's candidacy against calls for left-wing alliance.
