Leterme Resigns!!

[Bono]

www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2ed7e166-52d0-11dd-9ba7-000077b07658.html

Belgium returns to disarray as Leterme quits

By Tony Barber in Brussels

Published: July 16 2008 03:00 | Last updated: July 16 2008 03:00

Belgium's political and -linguistic conflicts yesterday returned with a vengeance when Yves Leterme tendered his resignation as prime minister in a dispute over regional autonomy.

Mr Leterme's decision, taken less than four months after he was sworn in, amounted to a confession that the rifts in his five-party coalition were too profound to permit a solution to a crisis that has dragged on since the last national elections in June 2007.

Belgian political commentators expressed dismay at the outbreak of fresh political turmoil at a time when the country faces severe economic challenges, with latest figures showing annual inflation at a 23-year high in May of 5.2 per cent.

Some business people warn that foreign investment might suffer with the revival of political uncertainty in Belgium, seen as one of the European Union's most open economies.

Luc Delfosse, assistant editor of Le Soir, the nation's leading French-language newspaper, described Belgium as "a country on the edge of the abyss".

The heart of the problem is the widening gulf between Belgium's Dutch-speakers, accounting for almost 60 per cent of the 10.5m population and living mainly in the north, and its French-speakers, who live mainly in the south.

The Dutch-speaking region of Flanders is one of the most prosperous in Europe and as its wealth has grown over 50 years, so have Flemish national pride and a sense of detachment from Belgium.

Conversely, the French-speaking region of Wallonia, although well-off, is in relative econ-omic decline. It has retained much more enthusiasm for the idea of a united Belgium, formed as an independent state in 1831.

Mr Leterme, a Flemish Christian Democrat, was installed as premier in March after an unprecedented nine months of negotiations between Dutch- and French-speaking politicians to fix the objectives of a new government.

The deadlock prompted some Europeans to ask if Belgium was doomed to go the way of the former Czechoslovakia and split in a "velvet divorce". But many Belgians were more sanguine and pointed out that would be difficult because Brussels, the French-speaking federal capital, is located in the middle of Flanders.

Mr Leterme had set himself a deadline of Tuesday for reaching a deal on more autonomy for Belgium's regions. But the resistance of fellow Christian Democrats and their Flemish nationalist allies, as well as the opposition of French-speakers, made his task impossible.

"It appears that the conflicting visions of the communities over how to give a new equilibrium to our state have become incompatible," Mr Leterme said.

His resignation will not be definitive unless King Albert II accepts it, and the king is thought likely to start consultations with a wide range of Belgian politicians before deciding his next step.

Political commentators said the upheaval increased the possibility of Belgium having to hold new national elections in June 2009, simultaneously with elections for the European parliament.

Yves Leterme, prime minister Son of a Walloon father, Leterme, 47, is a Flemish Christian Democrat who won a big victory in 2007 elections. Premier since March, he is derisive of the ability of Francophones to speak Dutch. He jokes that Belgians have little in common beyond their king, football team and some types of beer

Olivier Maingain Leader of the Democratic Front of Francophones (FDF), a militant party that seeks to protect and expand the linguistic rights of French-speakers in and around Brussels. Mr Maingain, 49, wants to unite Brussels with Wallonia, something utterly unacceptable to Flemish politicians

Joëlle Milquet Leader of the CDH, a Francophone Christian Democratic party that supports Belgium's unity. One of five deputy premiers in Yves Leterme's government, Ms Milquet's strong defence of French-speakers' rights has earned her the sobriquet ' Madame Non ' (Mrs No)

Filip Dewinter A powerful figure in Vlaams Belang, an anti-immigrant Flemish separatist party that has flourished since Mr Dewinter's rise to stardom in the 1980s. Mr Dewinter, 47, wants to restrict the linguistic rights of French-speakers in the districts of Flanders that separate Brussels from Wallonia

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008

[Bono]

Well, in my defense that thread is in the wrong board, since we don't know yet if there will be elections.

[Bono]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jz9mB2UhguIDcWPxPjYqcRJPr3ugD9201L7O3

Belgian king rejects government's resignation

By ROBERT WIELAARD – 6 hours ago

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — Belgium's king refused to accept the resignation of the prime minister and his government Thursday, calling on key officials to redouble efforts to resolve an longtime disagreement over more self-rule for the country's Dutch and French speakers.

King Albert II asked politicians from both language camps to help sort out a deepening split over reforms that threatens to tear apart this nation of 6.5 million.

He called for a "credible" dialogue about more regional autonomy, and rejected for now Monday's resignation of the government of Prime Minister Yves Leterme.

The royal palace said in a statement that the monarch asked Leterme "to encourage as best as is possible" chances of launching a constitutional reform debate.

Leterme offered the resignation after he failed to get his cabinet — an unwieldy alliance of Christian Democrats, Liberals, Socialists and nationalist hard-liners from both language camps that took office March 20 — to agree on a future together by devolving more federal powers to Flanders and Wallonia.

Efforts to grant Belgium's Dutch and French-speaking communities more self-rule began in the 1970s. Since then education, housing, trade, tourism, agriculture and other areas were shifted from the federal government, while Dutch-speaking Flanders, Francophone Wallonia and bilingual Brussels were given regional governments and parliaments.

Now Francophone parties accuse Dutch-speakers of trying to separate themselves completely.

Flemish parties want their more prosperous, Dutch-speaking northern half of the country to be more autonomous by shifting corporate and other taxes, some social security measures, transport, health, labor and justice matters to the language regions.

Mainstream Flemish politicians say there is room for more regional autonomy in one country but hardline nationalist parties in Flanders advocate the breakup of Belgium.