Belgium On the Brink

[ottermax]

I hope Belgium can stay together. The idea of a country going beyond the obstacles of culture and language to unite, gives a lot of hope that this world can get past their differences. It seems so idealistic, but Belgians aren't that different. I saw on tv another night that more Walloons are learning Dutch than ever before. Hopefully Belgium can stay together.

[StateBoiler]

Update on this. King Albert brought back the defeated Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt to work out a solution.

[afleitch]

What about Brussels?

In all seriousness, I wonder if it would be granted its own autonomous status as the capital of the EU, in a similar way to DC in the USA, or the ACT in Australia?

'Free City' status. A rather old fashioned solution to a city like Belgium, but one that is workable; it would be economically viable and territorially safe. I can imagine the UN would move there.

[Verily]

I hope Belgium can stay together. The idea of a country going beyond the obstacles of culture and language to unite, gives a lot of hope that this world can get past their differences. It seems so idealistic, but Belgians aren't that different. I saw on tv another night that more Walloons are learning Dutch than ever before. Hopefully Belgium can stay together.

The only reason they "came together" was because the British forced them to. In the end, Belgium is another example of "post-colonial" problems, though of course Belgium was not explicitly a colony, and the problems are not violent because it's a developed country. Its borders were drawn arbitrarily to prevent France from becoming too strong in the region, and now the people are paying for it.

[Gustaf]

What about Brussels?

In all seriousness, I wonder if it would be granted its own autonomous status as the capital of the EU, in a similar way to DC in the USA, or the ACT in Australia?

I hope you're not suggesting that the EU is similar to either the US or Australia. Europe is not a country, stupid Americans! No, but seriously I don't think the EU is really independent enough to rule its own territory like that yet. Luckily. Not that I can say that I'd care, they can have Brussels if they want.

[Joe Republic]

No, but seriously I don't think the EU is really independent enough to rule its own territory like that yet. Luckily. Not that I can say that I'd care, they can have Brussels if they want.

Nor me, but then I also don't think that Belgium is ready yet to split itself in two.  Time will surely tell on both issues.

[Јas]

AP report from International Herald Tribune website:

Deal reached for 3-month interim government in Belgium

Belgians woke up to the news Wednesday that two Dutch-speaking and three French-speaking parties will form an emergency government to tackle issues neglected during 192 days of deadlock that followed June elections.

The interim government, agreed upon in all-night negotiations, is to be in office for only three months, officials said.

It will be led by Guy Verhofstadt, the outgoing premier, who is to be sworn in Friday.

He spent a week assembling an alliance of Christian Democrats and Liberals — each split into Dutch- and French-speaking camps — and Francophone Socialists.

Belgium has been without a permanent government since the June 10 parliamentary elections.

The emergency government must address economic and social issues left unattended for more than six months and to draft constitutional reforms to grant more self-rule to Flanders, Belgium's Dutch-speaking northern half, and Wallonia, the Francophone south.

In the June elections, the Liberals and Christian Democrats won 81 of the 150 seats. But their efforts to form a government collapsed repeatedly in disputes over more regional autonomy.

In wealthier Flanders, a region of 6.5 million, more self-rule is supported by all parties. But politicians in poorer Wallonia, with its 4 million residents, accuse Dutch-speakers of seeking to wrest social security from the hands of the federal government. That, they say, would mean the end of Belgium.

The interim government is to be in office until the end of March when it is to make room for a government Liberals and Christian Democrats, the winners of the June vote. By then, it is hoped Dutch- and French-speaking politicians will have healed their divisions over more regional autonomy.

Since the June elections, Verhofstadt's center-left coalition of Liberals and Socialists has stayed on in a caretaker capacity with limited powers of government.

[Bono]

So, when does The Leterminator take over?

[JSojourner]

I like the whole Benelux idea.  Sounds like an entire country dedicated to the manufacture and door-to-door sale of vacuum sweepers.

(Okay, you're probably too young to remember the Electrolux...)

[Keystone Phil]

Who to side with - the Flemish (Dutch-lite) or the French speakers? Such horrible choices. 

I actually like Belgium even though it is a perfect mix of my two least favorite European countries.

[jeron]

'The only reason they "came together" was because the British forced them to. In the end, Belgium is another example of "post-colonial" problems, though of course Belgium was not explicitly a colony, and the problems are not violent because it's a developed country.'

They weren't always non-violent though.

'So, when does The Leterminator take over?'
The plan was to have an interim-government led by current PM Verhofstadt. They should come to an agreement on some major issues, except for Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde. Leterme should take over from Verhofstadt by easter.

'Who to side with - the Flemish (Dutch-lite) or the French speakers? Such horrible choices.'
With the Flemish I guess. All these communities belong to Flanders after all. Most of them should stay that way and a few can be annexed to Brussels. In the end Belgium will stay together. Wallonia is not a viable state on it's own.