The Belgian Crisis Drags On
On December 21 Belgium’s King Albert II appointed Guy Verhofstadt as the country’s new Prime Minister. Mr. Verhofstadt, the previous Prime Minister, was ousted from office in the last elections on June 10. When the Belgian politicians negotiated for six months but proved unable to form a new government coalition the King brought the loser back. Mr. Verhofstadt is now leading an “interim government” until next Easter in the hope that by then the politicians will have reached agreement on a new coalition that reflects the will of the electorate.
Mr. Verhofstadt’s task is to buy time. Belgium is a multinational country of 10 million inhabitants, consisting of 60% Dutch-speaking (free market oriented) Flemings and 40% French-speaking (predominantly Socialist) Walloons. Since its establishment in 1830-31 the country has been dominated by the Walloon minority, which is constitutionally entitled to 50% of the government positions. Apart from the political overrepresentation which Wallonia enjoys it is also showered with welfare subsidies from free market oriented Flanders. The Belgian Francophones can – and do – veto any Flemish proposal to reform the welfare system.
Predominance
Flanders is no longer willing to accept this, but the Walloons refuse to give up power. Hence, the total political stalemate in the bipolar Belgian state.
Mr. Verhofstadt’s “interim cabinet” has a two third majority of 101 of the 150 seats in the Belgian Federal Chamber of Representatives. The coalition consists of Mr. Verhofstadt’s own Flemish Liberal Party, the Flemish Christian-Democrat Party, the Walloon Liberal Party, the Walloon Humanist Party and the Walloon Socialist Party. It is predominantly Walloon, backed by 53 Walloon seats (out of a total of 62 French-speaking Representatives) and 48 Flemish seats (out of a Flemish total of 88 Representatives).
Democracy
Elections have no consequences in Belgium, at least not for the Dutch-speaking majority. Last June’s elections were (as always) won by the right in Flanders, but have (as always) led to a leftist government. Flanders votes for change, but does not get what it is entitled to.”
The Verhofstadt cabinet has to lay the basis for a cabinet led by Yves Leterme, the leader of the Flemish Christian-Democrats, after Easter. There are, however, no indications that the Walloon politicians, who vetoed all Mr. Leterme’s proposals for six months, will change their attitude in the coming weeks. Either Mr. Leterme renounces his election promises for greater Flemish autonomy, which won him last June’s elections, or by Easter the Belgian political crisis resumes in all earnest.
The Vlaams Belang is Belgium’s largest opposition party. It strives for the independence of Flanders because, like other peoples, the Flemings have the right to live in a democracy. But democracy is only possible in a sovereign and independent nation.
Source -
http://www.flemishrepublic.org
Traduction -
http://www.google.com/translate?u=http% ... en&ie=UTF8
Kevin
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