Rally demands new Belgian government
Source: Agencies |
January 24, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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TENS of thousands of protesters marched through the Belgian capital yesterday in support of national unity and to demand that the rival political groupings finally form a coalition after seven months without a government.
Organizers said the peaceful rally in downtown Brussels - the seat of the European Union - is also meant to promote solidarity among the country's Flemish and Walloon communities and to reject nationalism.
Police said between 20,000 and 30,000 people took part in the demonstration called by a group of university students who say they're fed up with the political deadlock.
"We're sending a clear message to the political leaders that we want them to form a government," said Felix De Clerck, one of the rally's organizers.
Political parties representing Belgium's two communities have been unable to form a coalition since parliamentary elections last June - a record period of deadlock in postwar Europe.
Politicians have been trying unsuccessfully to broker a new constitution with increased regional autonomy for the 6 million Dutch-speaking Flemings and 4.5 million French-speaking Walloons.
The deadlock has sparked fears that Flanders could -secede from the union formed in 1830.
Positions in Flanders have hardened over the years, bringing to the fore the center-right N-VA nationalist party headed by Bart De Wever. He is trying to form a government with the socialist PS party, the dominant political party in Wallonia.
In a reference to De Wever, several demonstrators carried pictures of cartoon character Bart Simpson with his face crossed out. Others carried signs saying "Separation? Not In Our Name."
Many carried umbrellas, hats, shawls and other items in the black, gold and red colors of the Belgian flag. "What do we want? We want a government," they chanted.
Since the elections, the country has been run by a caretaker government led by Prime Minister Yves Leterme. But that government only has a limited remit and, as the euro currency tries to weather a crisis, investors are looking unkindly at the stalemate that prevents the nation from taking decisive action.
Organizers said the peaceful rally in downtown Brussels - the seat of the European Union - is also meant to promote solidarity among the country's Flemish and Walloon communities and to reject nationalism.
Police said between 20,000 and 30,000 people took part in the demonstration called by a group of university students who say they're fed up with the political deadlock.
"We're sending a clear message to the political leaders that we want them to form a government," said Felix De Clerck, one of the rally's organizers.
Political parties representing Belgium's two communities have been unable to form a coalition since parliamentary elections last June - a record period of deadlock in postwar Europe.
Politicians have been trying unsuccessfully to broker a new constitution with increased regional autonomy for the 6 million Dutch-speaking Flemings and 4.5 million French-speaking Walloons.
The deadlock has sparked fears that Flanders could -secede from the union formed in 1830.
Positions in Flanders have hardened over the years, bringing to the fore the center-right N-VA nationalist party headed by Bart De Wever. He is trying to form a government with the socialist PS party, the dominant political party in Wallonia.
In a reference to De Wever, several demonstrators carried pictures of cartoon character Bart Simpson with his face crossed out. Others carried signs saying "Separation? Not In Our Name."
Many carried umbrellas, hats, shawls and other items in the black, gold and red colors of the Belgian flag. "What do we want? We want a government," they chanted.
Since the elections, the country has been run by a caretaker government led by Prime Minister Yves Leterme. But that government only has a limited remit and, as the euro currency tries to weather a crisis, investors are looking unkindly at the stalemate that prevents the nation from taking decisive action.
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