Belgian king refuses PM De Wever's resignation, orders new budget talks

Belgium's King Philippe rejected Prime Minister Bart De Wever's resignation and ordered him back to budget talks, after the coalition failed to agree on how to close a 10-billion-euro gap by 2029. De Wever had offered to resign on Monday when his five-party coalition split over a VAT rise the French-speaking Reformist Movement opposed. The king met party leaders, secured commitments to compromise, and set 16 November as the deadline for De Wever to report back.

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