Belgians Don’t Need No Government
From the desk of Paul Belien
Today, on the 174th day after the June 10th general elections in Belgium, Yves Leterme, the leader of the Flemish Christian-Democrats, told King Albert II that it is impossible for him to form a government. Belgium is a multinational country consisting of 6 million Dutch-speakers in Flanders and 4 million French-speakers in Wallonia. The Flemings want more regional autonomy, the Walloons oppose it because they are at the receiving end of the Belgian welfare mechanism.
Mr. Leterme won the elections because he went to the elections in an alliance with Flemish Nationalists and promised the Flemings that he would give Flanders more autonomy.Last week Mr. Leterme, for the sake of the country’s reputation abroad, told the Walloon parties that he was willing to tone down on his Flemish demands in order to facilitate the formation of a government. Within a few hours he and the Walloon Christian-Democrats and Liberals had reached an agreement. This agreement, however, led to a rift within Leterme’s own alliance, where the Flemish Nationalists threatened to terminate their alliance with the Christian-Democrats (CD&V), form their own political group and join the opposition. Flemish public opinion also turned against the plans to tone down on Flemish demands. That prospect led Mr. Leterme to again adopt a tougher pro-Flemish position.
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2721