Brussels finally has a regional government after parties came to an agreement following more than 600 days of deadlock. 

Seven parties have been locked in negotiations since Tuesday and, on Thursday night, Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the Francophone liberal Reformist Movement (MR), posted a picture of white smoke on social media. 

“We are relieved that after more than 600 days we have a government again in the capital of Europe,” Bouchez told reporters, adding all seven parties had found a common position. 

The Belgian capital had been without a regional government since an election in June 2024, with parties unable to agree on forming a coalition, causing chaos for the city’s finances. Brussels is currently grappling with a staggering €15 billion debt, raising concerns about a looming financial crisis. 

The parties involved in this week’s talks were the Francophone MR, socialist PS and centrist Les Engagés, and the Flemish leftist Groen, social democratic party Vooruit, liberal Anders and conservative CD&V.

Speaking at an informal European leaders summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever reacted with cautious optimism to the news.

“I’ve seen the WhatsApp messages coming in about it. I mainly want to see what the agreement entails,” he said, adding “the Brussels budget has completely gone off the rails.”

Belgium’s devolved system of governance means its three regions — French-speaking Wallonia in the south, Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north and Brussels sandwiched between them — each have a government separate from Belgium’s national government.