Belgian MR leader threatens to leave coalition over tax hikes

Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of Belgium's Mouvement Réformateur (MR), warned during the party's political opening that the MR will not accept any tax increases or new taxes, threatening to exit the governing coalition if fiscal laxity prevails. This signals potential instability in the Belgian federal coalition, as Bouchez asserts alternative majorities are possible. The statement is a political positioning move ahead of budget negotiations, with uncertainty over whether it will lead to an actual coalition breakdown.