Belgium's new Prime Minister Bart De Wever takes oath in bilingual ceremony

Belgium has a new Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, who took the oath on February 3, 2025. He leads a 15-member cabinet that reflects the country's linguistic divide, with ministers swearing allegiance in Dutch and French. De Wever, from the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, succeeds Alexander De Croo after a seven-month coalition negotiation. His government includes five parties and aims to address the national debt, which exceeds 100% of GDP. The new cabinet has raised concerns about gender balance, with only three women among the 15 ministers. De Wever's coalition will focus on budget cleanup, social policy, and migration, while navigating the complexities of Belgium's political landscape.