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.

De Wever’s right-wing nationalist party claims as one of its missions the independence of Flanders from Belgium, although it’s shifted its approach to one of “confederalism,” whereby a minimal federal state remains in place but its regions get most of its powers.