King Albert II Forming a New Goverment, 2007-2011

[Moonmaiden23]

These are all very funny, but sad as well. King Baudouin must be spinning in his grave.

 

[Marengo]

King albert has to mend the broken pieces yet again:

King Albert starts mediation effort

Mon 12/11/07 - Belgium's King Albert intends to take an active role mediating in the impasse surrounding the government formation talks.



Over 150 days after the election Belgium still has no new Federal Government.

On Sunday King Albert spoke with the Presidents of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate, Herman Van Rompuy (Flemish Christian democrat) and Armand De Decker (Francophone liberal).

Read the entire article of flandersnews.be here.

In the mean time, their Northern neighbours might give the Flemish a warm welcome , Read the article here.

 

[johann]

In the mean time, their Northern neighbours might give the Flemish a warm welcome , Read the article here.

Not only the Dutchmen are eager beavers when it comes to give a warm welcome to homeless future Ex-Belgians, the Frenchman are even more generous: According to an opinion poll by Le Journal du Dimanche 54% would favour the merger of France and Wallonia. But I`m sure the folks from Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels have other plans instead – if only they had professional politicians who finally take their responsibility, form a government and stop this dishonourable soap opera ASAP.

 

[Empress]

Do you all really think that he will be effective in mediating between these two factions? It seems to me that while he is effectively head of state, with one party not really caring for his position it puts him really at a disadvantage from the get go.

Although, on the other hand, since he should really be non political, perhaps it will help.

In his position though, I wonder if I could be unbiased. It would be cery difficult methinks.

 

[Martha]

It´s a 6 months without Prime Minister. King Albert Has a difficult situation.

 

[Marengo]

I agree Empress, the King is in a difficult position indeed. I am not sure how big his role in reality is, I am not that well informed about the Belgian RF, but he certainly makes a difference. The newspapers don´t focus on him that often for nothing I think. But he is in a difficult position, he can do no good to some, wesp. the seperatists.

To johann: .. doesn´t Germany want a piece of the cake too? Still you are right, it is highly unlikely that Belgians would like a merge, esp. those in Flanders. Flanders should be capable of standing on its own feet independantly, though I am not too sure about Wallonia, if the country does split up (which I still think is unlikely at this stage, but it might be possible in 25 years), they might find it difficult to survive on their own.

 

[johann]

To johann: .. doesn´t Germany want a piece of the cake too?

No, no. We finally learned our lesson and have gotten over our destructive expansion plans. But probably Luxembourg is interested?!

Well, pure sarcasm probably is the only way to deal with this absurd situation. Whatever Albert does, he cannot do right, his position gets weaker and actually his talks already nearly failed as the Flemish socialists declared not to take part in the state reform commission (with good reasons btw). And as we are talking of weakness: The one who takes the mayor responsibility for this farce is in my very humble opinion Yves Leterme, the Prime Minister in waiting (and never was a phrase more fitting). Actually the King already paved the way for him twice and both times Leterme failed miserably. Last week Albert and Leterme decided to outsource the state reform debate to a commission, a passable way to get out of the crisis, but Leterme obviously was not capable to convince his own party and his alliance partner, the almighty N-VA (which was voted by less than 5% of the Belgians btw). Et voila – the result is a complete blockade. Is Leterme capable of leading a country? I don´t think so. But unfortunately there hardly is an alternative to him.

And Thursday it´s King´s Day in Belgium and the politicians gather in the church and at the parliament to honour the King. And, geez, I think Albert is more than happy he does not have the habit to join his own party (which will have a very hypocritical taste this year).

 

[Empress]

It would be terribly strange to see something like that happen in my lifetime. I assume it was very odd for our parents, who all of a sudden had to learn about several new countries after the various wars and dissolutions.. None the less, everything seemed fairly settled, and now this.

It does make one wonder as to what would the name of the coutries be, and would they then need to reapply for membership in the EU, how would they decide on the countries names, what nationality would these people have, and what about the passports, and such... It brings up so many questions, not just politically speaking.

In a weird way it reminds me a bit of East and West Germany. Look what happened there when they split the country in two. Not that it is at all the same thing, but there are whisps of the same feeling a bit in that they might very well be splitting apart families. Not that there would be a Berlin wall or anything, as I am assuming that everyone would be free to move about, but it is a very strange situation.

 

[Marengo]

Well,. the debate about a split up or union with another country makes a nice chat in cafe´s and in birthdays but it has never been seriously researched. I am sure that the Dutch would be less favourably inclined towards a union if they knew the costs, and even the Flemish might see that a split up would cost them a LOT of money, much more than they are paying now. Still, populism seems to be popular these days so instead of that they focus on how much they pay each year to Wallonia.To johann: the Kings feast will be a bitter day indeed, to see all these people celebrating the King who keeps Belgium together, while they are doing much to work against him/the country, sometimes even openly.I agree that Leterme doesn´t seem overly competent and he is one of the majhor factors, but seriously, the Walloon ´non´ to just about everything for the last decades hasn´t been helpfull either. They aren´t really in a position to bargain the way that they do.

 

[Marengo]

More anti-seperatist sounds:

Separatist motion rejected

Thu 22/11/07 - A motion calling for the partition of Belgium that was tabled by the far-right party Vlaams Belang has been voted down by the Chamber of Representatives. Thursday afternoon's vote means that the motion will not be discussed by MPs and consequently that no further vote will take place on its separatist contents.



This is being seen by Francophones as an important peace gesture. Most Flemish MPs voted against parliament considering the motion.

Vlaams Belang voted in favour and the Flemish nationalists and three Flemish Christian democrats abstained.

Read the entire flandersnews article here.

 

[Coquine]

So this isnt over is it

No, still a long way to go, my grandma is hoping for a new government as a Christmas present.

And for those who understand Dutch :

Here's a funny song about the crisis and especially Yves Leterme, put to the tune of 'Hey there Delilah'.

 

[kaffir]

What's the upside of Belgium staying as one? Plenty of countries have been formed and dissolved in the past 60 or so years; I think it's Belgium's time.

 

[Coquine]

The upside of Belgium ? Every Belgian will have a different answer to that question depending on his political affiliation. Personally, I don’t think there is any upside to Belgium in its actual form. Before Belgium will work again, there needs to be a new state reform, there need to be answers to issues that haven’t been solved by the previous state reforms and have been dragging on for too long now, e.g. B-H-V. On the other hand, I can’t imagine a separation. There would be complete chaos and a separation would be very expensive. And the most important, what do you do about Brussels ?

And to brighten up this thread a bit :

Another satyrical song about the crisis and the King, put to the tune of Umbrella by Rihanna this time. It's not as good as the previous one though. There's a video with French subtitles as well for those who don't understand Dutch.

 

[Marengo]

Thanks for these songs Coquine, very funny, especially the first one. They even included the King in the song, just in one sentense luckily. Anyway, the Walloons won´t give in an inch, dispite the crisis...so:

In the mean time Leterme paid his 7th visit since the elections to the King:

Is a government formation nigh?

27 November 2007
BRUSSELS - Belgium's would-be premier, Yves Leterme, struggled Monday to persuade his own Flemish Christian Democrats to agree to join a centre-right government that would postpone a decision on granting more autonomy to their prosperous northern region.
For the seventh time, Leterme visited the royal palace Monday - 169 days after the elections - to update King Albert on his effort to form a government. He made no comment following the meeting. The self-rule dispute has foiled efforts by Christian Democrat and Liberal parties from Belgium's Dutch- and French-speaking communities to form a government since they won a majority in elections on 10 June.

Read the entire expatica article here.

 

[Marengo]

And just to keep us all updated:

Leterme gives it another go

28 November 2007
BRUSSELS - Representatives of the Flemish and Francophone Christian democrat and liberal parties will today meet to discuss the state reform programme of the government they are hoping to form.
Last night tensions rose between the Flemish Christian democrats of Prime Minister-in-waiting Yves Leterme and his Flemish nationalist alliance partner

The entire expatica article here.

----
And a nice artcile from Flandersnews.be, with a BBC video on top (click on ´video´)

"Waking up in a country called Flanders?"

Wed 28/11/07 - BBC's Mark Mardell predicts Belgium will find a solution to its present crisis, but does not rule out a new country on the map of Europe within a few decades.



Watch the report by clicking top right!

The BBC today broadcast a special report devoted to Belgium's protracted political crisis.

The report forms one of many aired on BBC TV’s News 24 today in an attempt to explain what is happening in Belgium to a domestic audience in the UK.



The BBC's Europe editor explained that it was above all Francophone Walloons that were backing Belgian unity and wanted to stop the Flemings gaining more power for their well-off region.

Read the entire article here.

 

[Marengo]

Bad news, Leterme threw the towel in the ring today, after Joelle Miquet aka Madame Non kept saying...´Non´

Flandersnews.be says the following:

Mr Leterme throws in the towel

Sat 01/12/07 - Yves Leterme, the Flemish Christian democrat who has been attempting to form a new federal Government, has asked King Albert to relieve him of his task.



Mr Leterme met with King Albert at the Palace on Saturday afternoon.

The king agreed to Mr Leterme's request.

After one of the four delegations taking part in the formation talks failed to meet an ultimatum that Mr Leterme set, the Flemish Christian democrat's second attempt to form a new Government has now failed.

Read the entire article here.

 

[Paty]

Outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrives for a meeting with King Albert II, Monday 03 December 2007 at the Castle of Laken-Laeken, Brussels.

ANP Beeldbank
ANP Beeldbank
ANP Beeldbank
ANP Beeldbank

 

[Marengo]

Nobody expects a quick end to the formation, so:

Belgium gets cabinet of urgent affairs

Premier Guy Verhofstadt is getting extended powers and will constitute a de facto emergency cabinet.

3 December 2007
With no new Federal Government in sight six months after the general election the outgoing administration of Premier Guy Verhofstadt is getting extended powers and will constitute a de facto emergency cabinet.

Read the entire expatica article here.

 

[Paty]

Belgian outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrives for a meeting with King Albert II, Monday 10 December 2007 at Belvedere Castle in Laken - Laeken, Brussels. Guy Verhofstadt was appointed by Belgian King last week as new informator and in charge of the government for more than just currents matters.

http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/prev/8038719.jpg
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/prev/8038715.jpg

 

[Empress]

Well, I don't think that anything good can come from ripping a country in two. None the less, all the politicians keep screaming how they know best, and I honestly don't think that they give a flying hoot about what the Belgian people want. It's all egotism if you ask me, and the politicians are getting all the attention that they could want. Instead of sitting down and trying to work something out, not one of them will budge and they just keep slinging mud! Ugh!

Anyway, apparently the Walloons and the Flemish can't decide who gets to go to the signing of the treaty of Lisbon, which has imopact on the EU consititution. If they can't agree to send one person, then the treaty might be delayed. So now they are taking their fight out of Belgium and plaguing the rest of Europe with it!

Belgium remains without government - CNN.com

 

[Marengo]

Well, my fatehr was in Belgium last week and he said that whenever he discussed the formation of a goverment the Belgian he talked to would immidiately and almost triumphantly say that the longest Dutch formation took 208 days, so in that light the Belgian one isn´t too bad. Still, with the solution so far away I think the 208 days is slowly approaching.

In the mean time Mr. Leterme made some undiplomatic comments about the RBTF, comparing it to a Rwandese state channel that had propaganda, it is said that this blunder will cost him the premiership

--

As the political crisis will probably continue for a while, some think an emergency government should be formed:

Emergency government is an option

Parties accept the idea of forming an emergency government to be able to deal with the most urgent issues at hand

10 December 2007 - The Flemish Christian democrat (CD&V) and liberal (Open VLD) parties accept the idea of forming an emergency government to be able to deal with the most urgent issues at hand. This possibility was discussed during the VRT current affairs TV show 'De zevende dag'.

Read the entire expatica article here.

 

[stephanievl]

Interim government appointed

Fri 21/12/07 - King Albert of the Belgians has formally appointed Guy Verhofstadt as Belgium's new Prime Minister. Mr Verhofstadt, who has been the Belgian Prime Minister since 1999, will lead an interim government until Easter.

the whole article
flandersnews.be - Interim government appointed

Pictures
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Supload.com // Free Image Hosting
Supload.com // Free Image Hosting
Supload.com // Free Image Hosting
Supload.com // Free Image Hosting

 

[norwegianne]

Well, then things will get moving in Belgium, for a while.

 

[Marengo]

Not really, the interim goverment is just there because there are some current affairs that have to be dealt with, but the ´real´ goverment still has to be formed and can that can take even longer now.

 

[Marengo]

This cartoon won a Dutch competition as cartoon ofn the year. For those who know Suske & Wiske cartoon it is pretty obvious what is meant....

 

[Empress]

Oh my! That's a rather blatant statement. What is the situation with the government? I hate to say it, but I've been so preoccupied with other things, that I just have not had a chance to really follow this particular event.

On another note, what's going on with the Flemish and the Walloons? I assume that they are still bleating on about turning Belgium into one or several countries... Does anyone really take that seriously, and if so, I wonder what the chances are of something like that really happening.

 

[Marengo]

Well, there is a preliminairy government which is ruling the country under the former prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. They have mre authority than the usual demissionair government, so... The parties are still negociating and this prel. government takes away pressure from them so they all can dig themselves in even further. In the mean time Yves Leterme, the one who is supposed to become prime minister is in hospital and will only be out on the 20th of March, so another delay.

 

[Marengo]

Some politicians leaked information from their blackberry to the press last week. Some of the information was about the king (and all of it about the formation of a government). Apart from the tapes there are even some politicians talking on television what the King and they spoke about during the meetings, which is unprecidented (it is supposed to stay between the walls of Laeken Castle). Anyway, some of the information:

- The King and court thought that the NV-A was/is responsible for the present crisis, and that they have extremist tendencies.

- The Palace hates the 'kartel' between NV-A and the Flemish Chistian Democrats

- The King never forgave Leterme (Prime Minister to-be) for publicly correcting the King about seperatism

- Reynders gave the King the impression that all would be settled quickly, which didn't happen. He thought that half August everything would be ready and the King could start his revalidation, but that did not work out.

- The King was very impressed by van Rompuy who mislead the King

- The King almost overstepped his constitutional boundaries when he tried to save the 'Orange-Blue' coalition

- Only halfway November the court realised that things were leading nowhere and the name of Verhofstadt began to circulate

Some anecdotes:

A statesman went to the a meeting with the King in Laeken. Ehen the King asked him what he wanted to drink the statesman asked for a Port. Now that is against court etiquette as you are only supposed to ask for water, tea or coffee. The King however thought it a good plan and asked the lackey for two glasses of Port, as he wanted to take it himself as well. The lackey was puzzled by this breach of etiquette and came back with: one glass of Port for the statesman and one glass of water for the King!

Another anecdote, when the chairman of a political party asked about the KJings health (which is against etiquette) the King replied 'Och, we are old and don't feel too well. I would realy like to be able to go on holidays, but sadly that isn't possible anymore'

Source: Het Nieuwsblad

 

[norwegianne]

Another anecdote, when the chairman of a political party asked about the KJings health (which is against etiquette) the King replied 'Och, we are old and don't feel too well. I would realy like to be able to go on holidays, but sadly that isn't possible anymore'

That's telling them.

 

[Marengo]

That's telling them.

Well, it didn't spur the politicians to work harder, sadly.
They are still talking and talking but IMO because this has been dragging on for months the news-value gets less and the sense of urgency is somehwat less too 9as the old government is governing now). So there seem to be less speculations about breaking up.

Anyway, the whole affair gives photoshoppers, cartoonists etc. an ideal topic, Look here for King Albert on a well-known film poster.