Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has announced his resignation after his party’s disappointing performance in federal and regional elections, Deutsche Welle reports.
De Croo’s Open VDL party is projected to lose almost half its seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The right-wing nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) is expected to finish first with 17% of the vote, followed by the far-right Vlaams Belang securing 14% of the vote. N-VA leader Bart De Wever is expected to become the next prime minister but has ruled out forming a coalition with Vlaams Belang.
Coalition negotiations between Flanders’ predominantly right-wing parties and Wallonia’s more left-leaning parties are expected to take months. De Croo will submit his resignation to King Philippe but will continue as acting prime minister during the coalition talks.