On Monday, the region equaled the record set by the federal government in 2010-2011. year, which remains the official world record for the longest government negotiations. The civil initiative Respect Brussels organized a demonstration to condemn the continued standstill, reports Belga.
Monday marks 541 days since the citizens of Brussels went to the polls, and there is still no new coalition. This region thus equaled the record set by the federal government in 2010-2011. , which eventually led to Di Roop’s government, and on Tuesday he will break the record for forming a government in Belgium.
This will not be an official world record, as the Guinness Book of Records decided a few years ago that this category would remain reserved for sovereign states. The decision was made in response to the protracted government crisis in Northern Ireland, where it took 729 days to form a new government. Belgium therefore remains the world record holder.
Also, it doesn’t look like a new Brussels government will be formed anytime soon. Last week, MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez tried again to form a coalition without the Francophone Socialists from the PS, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, Brussels’ acting budget minister Dirk De Smedt is warning of a shutdown in April. The financial situation in the region is so difficult that the temporary closure of certain public services cannot be ruled out. Many non-profit organizations in Brussels have already lost subsidies, investments have been delayed, and many construction sites have been blocked.
Bank Belfius has withdrawn its credit line of 500 million euros and no longer wants to act as the region’s banker.
For weeks there were fears that ING would also close a similar credit line of half a billion euros. For the government, such lines of credit are crucial so that it can continue spending in the short term.
On Monday, more than 500 Brussels residents protested against this current blockade on Sint-Jan Square, near the Brussels Parliament. Protesters chanted slogans and booed politicians before marching to parliament.
Several speakers from the Brussels cultural and social community fear that they and the region are headed for total disaster.
– There is no security without political leadership. The absence of politics means the destruction of the social and cultural fabric of the region – they said.
Economist and philosopher Philippe Van Parijs stated that “the government must be formed urgently because of the budget”.
– It won’t be pleasant, but decisions must be made now, because later it will be even worse. The current impasse is really about mutual trust. Politicians must make compromises – said the academician at the demonstration.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
