The dispute escalated to the point where Prime Minister Bart De Wever submitted his resignation after the government failed to reach an agreement on the 2027 budget.

Among the proposed changes is the introduction of an annual progressive tax on financial assets worth more than €500,000, with rates ranging from 0.15% to 0.6%. Real estate would be excluded from the list of taxable assets. Other proposals include revising the taxation of capital gains, stock market transactions and securities. The government is also considering tightening tax rules for companies relocating abroad. Another proposal involves increasing VAT from 21% to 22% and replacing the reduced rates of 6% and 12% with a single rate of 9%.

In mid-October, the Prime Minister presented a draft budget that no longer included the VAT reform. However, the government still failed to reach a consensus on this proposal.