One year later… for nothing

On 13 June 2010, Belgians went to the polls to elect a double majority: Flemish nationalists in the north, and Socialists in the south. Ever since, and in spite of numerous political initiatives, the country has remained without a government. The Belgian press reports on a sombre anniversary.

Published on 13 June 2011 at 14:30

Exactly one year ago, Belgium was forced to endure what Le Soir terms "a slap in the face": for the first time ever, Flemish nationalists had won a general election. With 27.8% of the vote, Bart de Wever’s Nieuwe-Vlaamse Alliantie (New Flemish Alliance, N-VA) had become the leading party in Flanders and in Belgium, while the south of the country was dominated by the Socialist Party which scored 37.6% of the vote in Wallonia.

Since then, the country has been torn between these two parties with radically differing views on how it should manage its Dutch and French speaking cultural communities. And in spite of numerous “reconciliation”, “mediation”, and other “exploratory” initiatives, 12 months have gone by without agreement on the formation of a government while day-to-day business has been conducted by a caretaker administration. Although many Belgians feel upset and drained by a situation that they believe is inextricable, most paradoxically remain confident in the ability of their leaders to find a solution to the crisis.

For the editorialist in Le Soir, Belgium has survived, but "it is just… a little less Belgian:

Over the last 12 months, the Francophone community has come to share at least one conviction with the north of the country: we are two populations who live under the same roof but we do not have a lot in common. True or false? We are no longer asking ourselves this question, we have accepted it.

Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday

Belgium is no longer seen as a marriage but as cohabitation. In the course of a year, the Francophones have come to acknowledge what a majority of Flemings have been telling them for months: we should manage things differently, because our situations, desires and politics are different. […]

What is more, the protracted duration of negotiations has boosted the conviction that, in the final analysis, we could quite happily live separately, and make it a part of daily life. And you would be forgiven for thinking that regional governments have what it takes to deal with the decisions required for day-to-day living. But this is clearly an illusion, because the many problems that are the responsibility of the federal government are not, or are no longer, being solved. […]

So why can’t we move forward? The answer is that talks have been bogged down by the fluctuating and ambitious demands of a nationalist party, which ensure continued support from the other Flemish parties who have yet to crack. And, in view of yesterday’s poll which indicates that the N-VA will obtain 33% of votes and that De Wever can count on an approval rating of 53%, there is no reason for this to change. The fatigue, the worry and the despair are set to continue.

In Flanders, De Morgen editorialist Yves Desmet argues that a year after the elections, both the talks and the political power struggle are in deadlock:

The bottom line is that both these political parties will continue to dominate: the opposition to change and the stubbornness demonstrated by the PS and the N-VA is gaining them more support from voters.

Notwithstanding the deadlock, Desmet remarks that citizens’ confidence in political process in the country has been strengthened: "even if nothing has been settled, we feel that they are doing good work". He cites two reasons to explain this paradox:

For the first time in many years, politics is no longer about 'nothing' or stingy little issues, but about major and far reaching decisions. […] But at the same time, people have been lulled into a false sense of security. Because even after a year without a government, the country is still working, the economy is picking up, and no one has the impression in their immediate social circle that they are living in a failed state. If everything appears to be functioning on autopilot, is there any reason to forgo another few months of stubbornness and resistance to change?

Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support independent European journalism

European democracy needs independent media. Join our community!

On the same topic