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Some 46 per cent of Belgians think that King Albert II should abdicate — a view endorsed by just 30 per cent at the height of the political crisis in 2010.
More Flemish people (50 per cent) than Walloons (43 per cent) want the king to step down, while 66 per cent of those questioned in Brussels were opposed to any such move. At 53 per cent, Prince Philippe’s approval rating is on the rise.
For the daily, these figures are evidence of the Belgian population’s “new maturity with regard to the monarchy,” which is not shared by the country’s politicians. “We know that King Albert II, who has reigned for 20 years and is now close to 80 years old, would like to give up the crown. But the politicians, who want to avoid creating any additional problems before elections in 2014, are holding him back.”
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