Belgian PM De Wever unveils reforms, boosts defense spending

Belgium's new Prime Minister Bart De Wever, leading a five-party coalition, has unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at reducing fiscal uncertainty and improving the country's economic situation. Key proposals include austerity measures, a 10% capital gains tax, and limiting unemployment benefits to two years. De Wever's government plans to tighten migration policies, including making family reunification more difficult and adjusting asylum seeker support. Additionally, the coalition aims to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2029 in alignment with NATO commitments. De Wever has expressed a desire to temper the EU's regulatory ambitions to enhance competitiveness while assuring cooperation across Belgium's linguistic divides. The government faces challenges in maintaining cohesion amidst fiscal pressures and divergent views on reform implementation.