Meanwhile in Belgium...

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It took long enough, but finally, after nine months, Belgium actually has a government.  (link)

However, it is doubtful that it will last as long as the time t took to form it.

[Keystone Phil]

Why was this never reported on in America? I mean, I know it's Belgium; you don't get any more random than that but no news on it? I found out about this just yesterday.

[minionofmidas]

Why was this never reported on in America? I mean, I know it's Belgium; you don't get any more random than that but no news on it? I found out about this just yesterday.

I first heard of this new "government" on this forum!

[minionofmidas]

So the Flemish socialists are in opposition now?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Which parties are in the coalition [question mark]

[minionofmidas]

Which parties are in the coalition [question mark]

Question mark for you, provided free of charge:
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Copy it into your clipboard.

Both Liberals, Both Christian Democrats, and Walloon Socialists, according to Wikipedia.

[Bono]

Which parties are in the coalition [question mark]

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Both Liberals, Both Christian Democrats, and Walloon Socialists, according to Wikipedia.

That's messed up. So the Flemish Socialists aren't in, but the Walloons are?
Oh well, let's see how the Leterminator does.

[minionofmidas]

Which parties are in the coalition [question mark]

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Copy it into your clipboard.

Both Liberals, Both Christian Democrats, and Walloon Socialists, according to Wikipedia.

That's messed up. So the Flemish Socialists aren't in, but the Walloons are?

It makes perfect sense... if you are Steve Stevaert and intend to be the next Prime Minister of Belgium, that is.

[Јas]

Leterme gets his hat-trick - once again offering his resignation to the King.

[The Mikado]

How long until they can have another set of elections?  This clearly isn't working.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Poor country...

[Хahar 🤔]

How long until they can have another set of elections?  This clearly isn't working.

I believe there are problems with Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde that prevent that.

[Hash]

How long until they can have another set of elections?  This clearly isn't working.

Elections would only prolong the deadlock. The Flemish right (NVA, Dedecker) stand to make gains, atleast on the 2009 results; and the French Greenies also stand to make major gains, still on 2009 results.

[Hash]

Ah, proof in point.

La Libre/RTBF's monthly poll from end of March 2010

Flanders
CDA 20 (-2.2)
NVA 17.9 (+2.9)
Vlaams Belang 17.3 (+0.2)
SP.A 15.5 (+1.6)
Open VLD 13.8 (-0.2)
Groen 8.1 (+0.9)
Dedecker 5.5 (-1.7)

http://download.saipm.com/pdf/libre/FLAN_BARRES.pdf
and: http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2010/04/03/en-belgique-les-partis-flamands-qui-pronent-l-independance-de-leur-region-progressent-dans-l-opinion_1328303_3214.html

Wallonia
PS 31.7 (-1.2)
MR 20.5 (-1)
Ecolo 20.2 (+0.9)
cdH 15.5 (+0.9)
PP 4.3 (+1.2) - a new right-wing liberal outfit
FN 3.7 (+0.4)

http://download.saipm.com/pdf/libre/WAL_BARRES.pdf

Bruxelles
PS 25 (+4.7)
MR 24.6 (-0.7)
Ecolo 15.6 (-4.3)
cdH 12.1 (-0.5)
PP 3.9 (+0.4)
Open VLD 3 (+0.2)
SP.A 1.9 (-0.3)
FN 1.5 (nc)
CDV 1.5 (-0.2)
NVA 1.1 (+0.2)
Groen 1.1 (-0.2)
Vlaams Belang 0.4 (-0.4)
Dedecker 0.4 (-0.3)

http://download.saipm.com/pdf/libre/BRUX_BARRES.pdf

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Any chance of a divorce between Wallonia and Flanders? (Or at least a separation where the federal government has few responsibilities?) 

[bgwah]

I kind of hope they split up. If only because I like tiny lil European countries for some reason.

Brussels could be a city-state! City-states are the best.

[freek]

Or at least a separation where the federal government has few responsibilities?

A situation they already have in Belgium right now, you mean?

[freek]

I believe there are problems with Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde that prevent that.

Yeah, the Belgian Constitutional Court ruled that elections are unconstitutional until the Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde problem is solved.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Or at least a separation where the federal government has few responsibilities?

A situation they already have in Belgium right now, you mean?

Then does it really matter whether there is a government?

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Brussels could be a city-state! City-states are the best.

In that case, all its suburbia would become officially Flemish, with strict rules that would make flee French speakers, Brussels could have more troubles controlling its suburbia generally speaking too, not good for its development and health.

I really wonder what could be the outcome there, seems it could miss a 'big thing', a major event for that the splitting actually occurs, but dunno, I'm not into Belgian subtleties that much...

[Verily]

Brussels could be a city-state! City-states are the best.

In that case, all its suburbia would become officially Flemish, with strict rules that would make flee French speakers, Brussels could have more troubles controlling its suburbia generally speaking too, not good for its development and health.

I really wonder what could be the outcome there, seems it could miss a 'big thing', a major event for that the splitting actually occurs, but dunno, I'm not into Belgian subtleties that much...

As a city, that would probably be good for it. It would encourage density and discourage expansion of suburbs.

I also doubt that the strict Flemish language laws would remain in place for long once Flanders and Wallonia end their arranged marriage.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Then you don't know the Flemish...

[Joe Republic]

I believe there are problems with Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde that prevent that.

Yeah, the Belgian Constitutional Court ruled that elections are unconstitutional until the Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde problem is solved.

The what?   [/ignorant American]

[Verily]

I believe there are problems with Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde that prevent that.

Yeah, the Belgian Constitutional Court ruled that elections are unconstitutional until the Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde problem is solved.

The what?   [/ignorant American]

Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde is an electoral district containing the city of Brussels and the surrounding suburbs in Flanders called Halle-Vilvoorde. It is the only electoral district in Belgium in which the voters can choose whether to vote for Flemish parties or French-speaking parties.

Halle-Vilvoorde is included in the electoral district because, while they are in Flanders, they are increasingly French-speaking and are primarily in the orbit of Brussels (which is predominantly French-speaking) rather than the rest of Flanders.

Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde has existed for quite some time and was considered a fairly reasonable compromise. However, the Flemish parties, particularly the ultraconservatives (NVA) and the fascists (Vlaams Belang), began to agitate against its existence about a decade ago. (The other Flemish parties also support the dissolution of the electoral district, although their fervor for the issue is often tepid.) And, unfortunately, they have a rather good argument...

The Constitution of Belgium forbids the existence of cross-linguistic community electoral districts. Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde contains parts of officially unilingually Flemish Flanders as well as officially bilingual Brussels, making it unconstitutional. The courts found this to be the case shortly after the most recent election.

However, the French-speakers in Halle-Vilvoorde, who would be prevented from voting for parties of their choice by the elimination of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde, strongly oppose any attempt to dissemble the electoral district. Because those voters serve as a major part of their own supporters, the French-speaking parties unanimously oppose the dissolution of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde as well. They have successfully blocked any legislation meant to split the district.

Therefore, the legislature cannot dissolve Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde, but the district is unconstitutional, so any further election conducted with it in place is void.

(IMO, the Francophone solution, to annex the predominantly French-speaking areas of Halle-Vilvoorde to Brussels and then split the district, is quite reasonable, but the Flemish oppose it because it creates geographic continuity between Wallonia and Brussels, which the French-speakers could use to kill innocent Flemish babies, or something like that.)

[Хahar 🤔]

The Constitution of Belgium forbids the existence of cross-linguistic community electoral districts.

It's like they want their country to be destroyed...