Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has tendered his resignation after his party suffered a significant setback in both national and European parliamentary elections held on Sunday.
During his announcement in Brussels on Sunday night, the 48-year-old De Croo struggled to contain his emotions, expressing disappointment at the election outcome. He stated, "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."
De Croo further announced, "As of tomorrow, I will be resigning as prime minister and I will fully concentrate on current affairs."
According to RTBF polling, De Croo’s Open VLD party faced challenges in the European Parliament elections, securing only 5.8 percent of the vote. The far-right Vlaams Belang party and the Flemish nationalist N-VA party each garnered 14.8 percent and 14.2 percent of the vote, respectively, as per the RTBF poll.
In his resignation speech, De Croo stressed the necessity of a new government with full powers to address Belgium’s tasks and promised a smooth transition of power to his successor.
Meanwhile, voting has concluded across the European Union’s 27 member states, with Italy casting the final votes.
The EU elections represent one of the world’s largest democratic exercises, with nearly 400 million voters across the EU selecting 720 members of the European Parliament.
The outcome will influence policies on various global issues, including climate change, defence, migration, and international relations with major players like China and the United States.
Since the last European elections in 2019, geopolitical dynamics have undergone significant changes. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has brought turmoil to the EU's borders, emphasising the union's role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Additionally, Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU highlight the complexities of the geopolitical landscape.
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