Belgium PM Alexander De Croo Resigns After Party Defeat in EU Elections

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has resigned following his party's significant loss in the recent national and European parliamentary elections, as reported by CNN.

Announcement and Reaction

De Croo, 48, struggled to contain his emotions while announcing his resignation in Brussels on Sunday night. "I was the figurehead of this campaign. This is not the result I had hoped for, and I therefore take responsibility for this result. It was not meant to be," he told the media. He further stated, "As of tomorrow, I will be resigning as prime minister and I will fully concentrate on current affairs."

Election Results

According to a poll by RTBF, cited by CNN, De Croo's Open VLD party performed poorly in the European Parliament elections, securing only 5.8% of the vote. The far-right Vlaams Belang party and the Flemish nationalist N-VA party both received approximately 14% of the vote, indicating a strong showing for these groups.

Future Steps

In his resignation speech, De Croo emphasized the necessity for Belgium to have a new government with full powers to tackle its responsibilities. He pledged to ensure a "proper transfer" of power to his successor.

Broader EU Context

Voting across the European Union's 27 member states has concluded, with the final votes cast in Italy. The EU elections are the world's second-largest democratic exercise, with nearly 400 million voters selecting 720 members of the European Parliament. The outcomes of these elections will influence policies on critical global issues such as climate change, defense, migration, and international relations with major powers like China and the United States.

Since the last European elections in 2019, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought conflict close to the EU's borders, highlighting the union's crucial role in maintaining regional peace and stability. Ukraine's aspiration to join the EU further adds to the geopolitical complexities facing the union.