Belgium's new government was installed on Monday, almost eight months after an election won by the Flemish nationalist N-VA party. N-VA leader Bart De Wever was appointed as prime minister, marking the first time the federal Belgian government will be led by a Flemish nationalist.

The country’s tense negotiations hinged on taxing and social spending — and they highlight issues facing Europe, and Western democracies, as a whole.

Political parties in Belgium agreed on Friday to form a new government, the office of Belgian King Philippe said, ending almost eight months of complicated talks that followed the election victory of Flemish nationalist party N-VA.