Belgium's Budget Discord: Coalition Reaches Tentative Agreement

After weeks of negotiations, Belgium’s five-party coalition reached a budget agreement amid threats of a national strike. Prime Minister Bart De Wever set a Christmas deadline to finalize plans to address financial repairs. Despite the agreement, a nationwide strike over pension reform threatens to disrupt train and air travel.

The Belgian government has finally reached a budget agreement for the upcoming year after prolonged and tense negotiations, according to broadcaster VRT. Prime Minister Bart De Wever had previously set a Christmas deadline for his coalition to finalize a deal to secure government finances.

This agreement, achieved after marathon discussions that began Sunday morning and concluded early Monday, does not prevent a looming three-day national strike. The demonstrations protest earlier reforms to the pension system and are scheduled to begin on Monday.

The impending strike is expected to heavily impact train and air travel. Last week, Brussels airport preemptively canceled all departing flights on Wednesday, as its security and handling personnel plan to participate in the strike.

(With inputs from agencies.)