// defineSizeMapping(TopMapping). // addSize([980, 200], [[970,90], [970,250], 'fluid']). How can you form a coalition to rule a Dutch-speaking north that votes solidly conservative and a left-leaning French-speaking south? How Belgium Has Gone 621 Days Without a Government - YouTube "We see no difference," passers-by told AFP reporters in central Brussels, not far from the seat of the Belgian federal state, rudderless since December 2018. Another option is that the Flemish centre-right dumps the nationalists to engage in a so-called "rainbow" coalition with the liberals, socialists and Greens. The latest adventure in caretaker government began on December 18, 2018 when then prime minister Charles Michel threw in the towel after the Flemish nationalist N-VA -- Belgium's biggest party -- quit his coalition over migration policy. Today, only the Socialist Party led by Paul Magnette, the biggest party on the French-speaking side, appears inevitable in any future coalition. // googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); It has been 592 days since the previous government, led by former Prime Minister Charles Michel, collapsed over inter-party tensions on migration in December 2018. // googletag.enableServices(); We have to prepare a meal and the fridge is empty," said French-speaking constitutional expert Marc Uyttendaele, who warned of a crisis not seen in decades. In some countries this might be a national crisis, but Belgians seem hardly bothered, used to living in a land that is ungovernable, but where citizens somehow just get on with life. The three community days are holidays for their government and administrative employees and may also be observed by banks in the community. // But resistance to the MR from the N-VA, which gained massively in the elections, has brought the negotiations up against a new impasse which could potentially be broken if the Flemish liberals, the Open Vld, dropped their Francophone sister party. // googletag.enableServices(); // addService(googletag.pubads()); // googletag.enableServices(); Despite months of talks, party bigwigs appear unable to untangle the Gordian Knot. Strained negotiations after last year’s elections in May have routinely collapsed as party leaders and several top government officials resign from their mission to steer the coalition negotiations. // adsmobileslot = googletag.defineSlot('/312997750/NEW_SITE_MOBILE_TOP_ALL', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1559116370415-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); With the centre squeezed, the near impossible task has been to form a government that includes both the Flemish conservative NV-A and the leftist and French-speaking Socialists. The previous record for Belgium’s longest post-election period without a government stands at 541 days and ended with the swearing-in of Former Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo after a similarly convoluted negotiation period followed the June 2010 elections. The third possible scenario, if gridlock endures, is the most unpredictable one: a return to the polls at the beginning of 2020. But the count swells to 589 if it is started on the day the previous elected government, led by Former Premier Yves Leterme, collapsed in a political turmoil that spurred a surge in popularity for the Flemish nationalist N-VA, giving way to a partisan standstill which was, until now, the longest political crisis in contemporary European history. // adslot0 = googletag.defineSlot('/312997750/ATF', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-ATF'). // googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); With no governing majority, it is impossible for the executive to pass a new budget and the public deficit is expected to hit around 11 billion euros in 2020, in violation of EU rules. For the past year Belgium has had no permanent government, and the kingdom's citizens don't seem to mind. All Rights Reserved. // addService(googletag.pubads()); // var adslot0; Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. But for Flemish political scientist Dave Sinardet, the real "existential crisis" was the 541 days without a government 10 years ago. "It's 'Belgitude'," smiled Odile, a costume designer, using a term that captures Belgians' infinite capacity to shrug off the absurdities of their complex country. In 2010-11 Belgium set a world record of 589 days without a government. In Belgium there are twelve 'official' public holidays, though two of them fall on a Sunday - Easter Sunday and Whitsun (Pentecost). // googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. // googletag.cmd.push(function(){ In the latest round of coalition negotiations, former royal informateurs George-Louis Bouchez and Joachim Coens, presidents of the Francophone liberal MR and of the Flemish, centre-right CD&V, were pushing to build a novel “Arizona” coalition. "This is a trend that can be observed elsewhere in Europe," said Sinardet, with vary degrees of political deadlock in Germany, Spain, Austria and others. Many powers in Belgium are devolved to the regions, but most big-ticket items remain in the hands of the federal government including pensions, justice, defence and asylum policy. Indeed, the crisis days of 2010 to 2011 -- when Belgium went 541 days without a government and the linguistic divide was so deep that the future of the county seemed in question -- … // addSize([730, 200], [[728, 90], 'fluid']). "With or without a government, there is social peace," shrugged Reda, a Belgian-Moroccan job-seeker. // googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Issued on: 10/12/2019 - 16:36Modified: 10/12/2019 - 16:34. France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines. // build(); Belgium on Sunday broke its own standing record for the longest political crisis and longest period without an elected government. // var adsmobileslot;