Belgium’s king appoints a centrist Christian Democrat as coalition mediator By Reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – King Philippe of Belgium has appointed Walloon politician Maxime Prevot, leader of the centrist francophone Les Engages party, to mediate coalition talks after they became bogged down over economic and social reforms, the palace said on Friday.

The king previously appointed Bart De Wever, whose Flemish nationalist N-VA has become the largest Belgian party in the country, to lead coalition talks. However, he resigned on Thursday after negotiations stalled over the French-speaking liberal MR party’s opposition to a capital gains tax.

De Wever tried to form a government with the N-VA, Les Engages, MR, the Flemish Christian Democratic Party CD&V and the Flemish Socialist Party Vooruit, called the Arizona coalition because the parties’ colors match the US state flag.

Les Engages de la Prevot only came in eight in recent elections, but the politician was described in the Belgian press as a big supporter of the Arizona coalition and on good terms with all party leaders.

The palace said it wanted “negotiations to resume as quickly as possible” and asked Prevot to report back on Monday, September 2, giving him 10 days to iron out differences between the parties.

Belgium needs to clean up its government finances as it is one of seven EU countries for which the European Commission has proposed disciplinary measures for excessive budget deficits.

While talks continue, the government of incumbent Prime Minister Alexander De Croo – whose Flemish Liberal Party fell in the June poll – will remain in place as caretaker.

Belgium holds the world record for the longest form of government – the longest lasted 541 days in 2010-2011.