King Albert II Forming a New Goverment, 2007-2011


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Status
Not open for further replies.
The King is now involved in the daily exploratory discussions,
he receives politicians at the Laeken Royal Palace.

French-speaking liberal party (MR) President Didier Reynders leaving
a meeting with King Albert on June 15, 2010.

** Pic **

Alexander De Croo, president of the Flemish liberal party (Open VLD)
leaving a meeting with King Albert on June 16, 2010.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **
 
I take it from these pictures that the Belgian King takes an active role in making a new government and doesn't let the politicians solve it themseleves before stepping in?
 
As I understood right, in the Flamish province a party had won the election, who wants to create an independent Flanders. Which form should this have? Monarchy? Which royal family should rule the country? Republic?
 
I don't think they partiuculary care about the form of government, but it is unlikely that an independant Flanders will be a monarchy. The chairman of the party is usually rather sceptical about the RF.

----

I think the role of the king of Belgium is somewhat simular to that of the Dutch queen. After the elections they invite all the party leaders one by one in their office. Among other things, they will discuss what coalition government is geting the most support. After that they appoint an 'informateur', who gets the fdifferent parties together for negotiations and such. If that works out the king will appoint a 'formateur', who will be more specific. If that is settled a government can be installed, but lately it is taking a long time to form any government (both in belgium as in my own country btw).
 
Another disturbing development, chronicled by Le Figaro:

"One third of Belgians ready to become French"

http://plus.lefigaro.fr/note/one-third-of-belgian-walloons-ready-to-become-french-20100625-231862

"Twenty percent of Belgians fear their country is going to disappear"

"Ninety-six percent of Walloons say the situation is serious.... 32 % of Walloons in favour of the incorporation of Wallonia into France, if Belgium collapses".....67% refuse any kind of concession to the Flemish..."
....and so on.

From Le Figaro in English - original story in French:

Le Figaro - International : Un tiers des Wallon prêts à devenir Français

Sounds like the beginning of divorce proceedings... Will the King be marriage guidance counsellor??
 
Here’s an article on the latest state of affairs.
flandersnews.be: King Albert launches cooling-off period

King Albert II. is receiving party leaders today and tomorrow and on Saturday the politicians start their negotiations again. There was some sort of clash between the two mayor players, Elio di Rupo, francophone socialist leader and probably the next prime minister and Bart De Wever, chairman of the Flemish nationalist party but it looks like they sorted it out enough to carry on their negotiations.

And of course there are photographers doing their work at the fence of Laeken castle again.
BelgaPicture - Category details
 
This is all very sad to me. I have always admired Belgium for being a small country that never acted her size and for standing on principle even in the face of certain defeat. Whenever I see the numbers of Flemish that want to go their own way and the number of Walloons that want to be part of France (and I don't think either group would be any happier as part of Holland or France) all I can think of is the pictures of those weary, mud-spattered but determined Belgian soldiers of World War I and World War II. This is not what they fought for and that so many people could give up on their country after all previous generations sacrificed to keep it, standing up not to contrary politicians but to massive invading armies... it just breaks my heart.

Vive l'Roi
Vive l'Belgique
:belgiumstandard: :belgiumflag: :belgiumflag: :belgiumflag:
 
It is so sad to read news about an internal political strife in Belgium. It may appear that Belgians are too well off for their own good and their politicians have got huge egos. Assuming that Belgium is split into several independent states, will these states be economically viable? I wonder why Flanders strive for an independent state.
 
From www.flandersnews.be:

King insists Mr Di Rupo must continue

501534858.jpg

VRT
Mon 30/08/2010 - 10:48 Elio Di Rupo, the Francophone socialist paving the way for the formation of a new Belgian Government, attempted to resign on Sunday. King Albert, however, has asked Mr Di Rupo to redouble his efforts to unblock the political stalemate.
Click to expand...

Read more here: flandersnews.be: King insists Mr Di Rupo must continue
 
______________

King Albert, Princess Mathilde and Prince Philippe have been present at talks
at the Royal Castle in Laken, Brussels, September 4, 2010. The ultimate
consultation on the State reformation yesterday between the seven parties,
PS, N-VA, sp.a, CD&V, Groen, cdH and Ecolo, failed. PS chairman and pre-
formateur Elio Di Rupo met with King Albert II to hand in his resignation. The
king keeps his resignation as pre-formateur under consideration and started
yesterday with the consultations with the various party chairmen.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** belga **
 
Is it confirmed that Philippe & Mathilde were present?
I doubt that they were. I think they are just in some of the pictures because the meetings with the king take place in Laeken Castle where Philippe and Mathilde live.
 
cdm said:
Is it confirmed that Philippe & Mathilde were present?
I doubt that they were. I think they are just in some of the pictures because the meetings with the king take place in Laeken Castle where Philippe and Mathilde live.
Click to expand...

They are not attending the consultation. Prince Philippe and princess Mathilde live at the Laeken Castle and nowedays there are a lot of photographers present in order to take pictures of the potiticians that is why we see also pictures of Philippe and Mathilde
 
I think it's a good job that the mess is being handled by the King of the Belgians, rather than his son.
 
From flandersnews.be:

King starts fresh round of consultations

Tue 19/10/2010 - 11:39 With a new federal coalition government looking further away than ever, King Albert II of the Belgians will hold a series of consultative talks with party chairmen over the next couple of days.
Click to expand...

read more here.

I think this will be the 5th round of consultations, and a sollution is nowhere in sight.

---

Meanwhile, only 44% of the Belgians feels 'Belgian'. In Flanders the number even is 37%, in Wallonia 55%:

http://www.gva.be/nieuws/binnenland/aid982919/44-procent-voelt-zich-nog-belg.aspx (in Dutch)
 
Last edited:
Yesterday there were rumors in Flemish newspapers that Albert was to step back in december.
December is the end of the Belgian presidency of Europe.
But because of the political crisis it will not happen yet.


Today newspapers say that politicians proposed to change the monarchy (no political power for the King anymore) during this government. Albert could then step back after 6 months.

''Koning' Filip krijgt louter protocollaire functie' - Gva.be

De Standaard Online - Laatste crisis voor Albert

De Standaard Online - Groen! veroorzaakt doorbraak in koninklijk dossier

deredactie.be: Kan koning in toekomst nog soelaas brengen?
 
This is Johan Vande Lanotte's campaign website:

Actueel*-*Johan Vande Lanotte

He is 54, born in Poperinge, and grew up in Stavele. He studied Social Sciences at Antwerpen Uni, became a lawyer, and got his PhD at Gent.
He likes basketball and poetry.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Does anyone know what the Belgian people think of the King for trying to mediate and form a government? Do they praise him for it? Is he popular for it? Or do the majority want to see Belgium split?
 
At the end of January Queen Paola expressed her worries about the formation process and the effect it had on the health of the king... at least that was reported in the press, but denied by the palace.

In general I think most people prefer Belgium to continue to exist, albeit perhaps with more influence for the various regional parlaments (esp. on the budget). There are also protests, last month people protested in Belgium in favor of a government and a senator suggested that the partners of politicians should go on a sexstrike until the formation has succeeded ;).

Belgian senator calls on 'sex strike' - GlobalTimes
 
The parties concerned have not formed the government yet. Have I understood it correctly? :ermm::ermm::ermm::ermm:What are they waiting for?
 
To solve issue about the language area of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde for one, to solve the issue about the flow of tax money from Flanders to Wallonia etc. But it seems that Belgium is doing fine without their government, the economy grew with 2.1% the last quater, which is about the same as in the EU countries on avarage. On February 17th the country will hold the record of the number of days without a government, whgich with 249 days belongs to Iraq.
 
Last edited:
The King has given Didier Reynders a further two weeks to come up with a solution.

I agree with Marengo - the Kingdom of the Belgians seems to be doing well without its politicians :))

I will be celebrating with the Belgians tomorrow when they will have broken the record - see above.
 
Thanks for clarifying the situation!
If Belgium function well without the government, politicians can take their time to settle their differences once and for all. I hope that it will end the traditional annual government crisis.
 
Well, Belgium - strictly speaking - needs to wait until the end of March to become undisputed champion. However, some communities have already declared themselves to be the winner.

Perhaps the Belgians ought to emulate the former Czechoslovakia and have a proper split.
 
Well, it's now the end of May 2011, and it's Elio Di Rupo's turn again.....

He was appointed formateur by King Albert on 16th May 2011.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Rossina
State visit to Australia & Official visit to New Zealand: November 23-30, 2016
2
Replies
34
Views
7K
salma
S
R
Mortal remains of HM King Peter II repatriated to Serbia, January 2013
Replies
13
Views
5K
USCtrojan
USCtrojan
Marengo
Abdication Issues & Belgium
2
Replies
35
Views
9K
Marengo
Marengo
Marengo
  • Locked
Controversy around Laurents visit to Congo & meeting Libyan diplomats - Mar/Apr 2011
2
Replies
33
Views
7K
Esmerelda
Esmerelda
stephanievl
  • Locked
State Visit To India 2-12 november 2008
2
Replies
54
Views
13K
White Princess
White Princess

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom