預算談判破裂，比利時政府陷入危機

巴特・H・梅耶爾撰稿By Bart H. Meijer

布魯塞爾，11月2日（路透）—— 比利時國王菲利普週一試圖化解一場政治危機。此前，徹夜預算談判破裂，促使總理巴特・德威佛提出辭呈。BRUSSELS, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Belgium's King Philippe sought on Monday to defuse a political crisis after overnight budget talks collapsed, prompting Prime Minister Bart De Wever to offer his resignation.

由於聯合政府各黨未能打破圍繞明年預算、已持續數月的僵局，德威佛週一上午與國王會面90分鐘時遞交辭呈。De Wever tendered his resignation during a 90-minute meeting with the king on Monday morning after coalition parties failed to break months of deadlock over next year's budget.

王宮表示，國王將考慮德威佛的請辭，但也將從週二起諮詢其他聯合政府政黨領袖。The Royal Palace said the king would consider De Wever's offer but would also consult the leaders of the other coalition parties from Tuesday.

王宮表示：「鑑於地緣政治高度不確定，以及嚴峻的經濟挑戰，國家承受不起漫長的政治危機。」"In light of the large geopolitical uncertainty and severe economic challenges, the country can't afford a long political crisis," the palace said.

數月來，政府一直就100億歐元（112億美元）的預算削減與增稅方案爭論不休。德威佛表示，這些措施是穩定比利時公共財政所必需。The government has been arguing for months about €10 billion ($11.2 billion) in budget cuts and tax increases De Wever says are needed to stabilise Belgium's public finances.

在數月談判中，德威佛所屬的佛拉蒙民族主義「新佛拉蒙聯盟」（N-VA）與自由派「改革運動黨」（MR），一直未能與其社會主義及中間派聯盟夥伴達成妥協。In months of talks, De Wever's Flemish nationalist N-VA and the liberal MR have not been able to compromise with their socialist and centrist coalition partners.

新佛拉蒙聯盟與改革運動黨主張更大幅度削減支出，包括醫療保健支出；但其聯盟夥伴則要求提高財富稅，以增加額外收入。The N-VA and MR have pushed for deeper spending cuts, including to healthcare, while their partners demand higher wealth taxes to raise additional revenue.

來自法語中間派政黨Les Engagés的副總理馬克西姆・普雷沃，週一在德威佛會見國王後不久，再度提出這項要求。Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot, from the francophone centrist party Les Engagés, renewed that call on Monday, shortly after De Wever's meeting with the king.

他在X平台發文表示：「由財力雄厚者作出貢獻，是正當的。」"A contribution from those with substantial financial means is legitimate," he said in a post on X.

「在最富有者與其他公民之間分攤負擔，是關乎未來平衡的問題。」"This sharing of the burden between the wealthiest and other citizens is a matter of balance for the future."

普雷沃接受廣播公司VRT訪問時表示，舉行新選舉的機率是「50/50」，同時呼籲聯合政府各黨重返談判桌。In an interview with broadcaster VRT, Prevot said there was a "50/50" chance of new elections, as he called on coalition parties to return to the negotiating table.

反對黨、工會與商業協會也一致呼籲執政各黨恢復談判，避免爆發預算危機。Opposition parties, trade unions and business associations were also unified in their call on the government parties to resume talks and avert a budget crisis.

債務暴增BALLOONING DEBT

與法國、義大利等其他歐洲國家一樣，比利時正努力在暴增的國家債務，與抗議者要求增加支出以改善教育等服務之間取得平衡。近幾週，法國、西班牙、義大利與比利時等國都發生示威者與警方衝突。Like other European countries, including France and Italy, Belgium is struggling to balance ballooning national debt with demands from protesters for greater spending to improve services, such as education. Demonstrators have clashed with police in countries including France, Spain, Italy and Belgium in recent weeks.

若未能達成協議，比利時明年將被迫依臨時支出規則運作，每月只能支出今年預算的十二分之一。Without an agreement, Belgium would be forced to operate under provisional spending rules next year, allowing it to spend only one-twelfth of this year's budget each month.

這場危機正值金融市場壓力升高之際。市場上，投資人認為政府財政薄弱的比利時、法國及其他歐洲國家，其政府公債利率已大幅攀升。The crisis coincides with heightened stress on financial markets, where interest rates have risen sharply on government bonds of Belgium, France and other European countries seen to have weak government finances.

歐盟執委會5月預測，比利時今年債務占國內生產毛額（GDP）比率將達110.5%，在歐元區國家中僅次於希臘、義大利與法國；一般政府赤字預估為GDP的5.2%。The European Commission forecast in May that Belgium's debt-to-gross domestic product ratio would be 110.5% this year, behind only Greece, Italy and France among euro zone countries, with a projected general government deficit of 5.2% of GDP.

週一下午，比利時10年期指標公債殖利率報4.39%，法國為4.90%，德國為3.29%。4個月前，比利時10年期公債殖利率為3.48%。Belgium's 10-year benchmark bonds were trading at a yield of 4.39% on Monday afternoon, against 4.90% for France and 3.29% for Germany. Four months ago, Belgian 10-year yields were at 3.48%.

德威佛一再警告「利息滾雪球」效應，主張若不削減預算，比利時可能面臨單純為支付現有債務利息而舉債的風險。De Wever has repeatedly warned of an "interest snowball", arguing that without budget cuts Belgium risks borrowing simply to cover the cost of servicing its existing debt.

國王將於週五再次會見德威佛。若國王最終接受總理辭呈，他可能要求其他政黨組成聯合政府，或宣布重新選舉。The king will meet De Wever again on Friday. If he ultimately accepts the prime minister's resignation, he could ask other parties to form a coalition or call fresh elections.

（1美元 = 0.8948歐元）($1 = 0.8948 euros)

（巴特・梅耶爾與菲利普・布蘭金索普報導；Sharon Singleton與Ros Russell編輯）(Reporting by Bart Meijer and Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell)