Setting the scene

In the summer of 2024, Mr. Bart De Wever (BDW), as leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) was also the key figure in the formation of Belgium’s new federal government. He had put forward his socio-economic “Supernote”. This masterplan outlines significant potential reformative measures with respect to pensions, labor market and the Belgian tax system. The basis for the government negotiations has always been BDW’s Supernote, which has now found its way into the new Coalition Agreement, a very detailed and comprehensive document, which was modified and reworked multiple times during the coalition talks.

Indeed, 236 days after the federal elections of 9 June 2024, the die was finally cast on Friday 31 January 2025. With the words “Alea iacta est”, the new Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, confirmed the birth of the so-called “Arizona Coalition”. This remarkable coalition consists of liberals, socialists, Christen Democrats and Flemish-nationalists (N-VA). The colors of the participating political families can be found in the flag of the American state Arizona: blue (liberals), red (socialists), orange (Christen Democrats) and yellow (Flemish-nationalists). Going forward the new Federal Government Agreement 2025-2029 will serve as the framework and basis for the new government’s policies and for the initiation of new draft legislation.