Belgian Prime Minister De Croo resigns following election defeat

In a move that marks a significant political shift in Belgium, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has announced his resignation following the defeat of his party, the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld), in the European elections.

With nearly 90 percent of the votes tallied, Open Vld secured only 5.9 percent of the vote in the federal election, prompting De Croo to tender his resignation.

Tomorrow I will resign as prime minister,

De Croo declared, acknowledging the electoral setback

Despite the defeat, De Croo expressed confidence in his party’s resilience, stating, “But the Liberals are strong, we will return.”

In Belgium, it is customary for the prime minister to step down after elections to facilitate the process of convening consultations for the formation of a new government. However, De Croo is expected to retain his interim position until the formation of a new government.

The announcement comes amidst a backdrop of political recalibration in Belgium, with the resignation signaling the beginning of negotiations and discussions to forge a new political direction for the nation.