Post-election Belgium holds EU presidency

Fears and Promises

Bart de Wever, leader of winning N-VA, hurried to assure that the Belgium Presidency will not be affected by its internal turmoil, as well as also stated that he will seek to negotiate with the Socialist Party (SP), urging that "Flanders and Wallonia must be masters of their own fate"


By ROXANA CIUPARIU (roxana.ciupariu@wavemagazine.net)
from Bucharest, ROMANIA


Following the unresolved conflict over the electoral arrondissement of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde, Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats retired from the government in spring 2010, action which stirred comments and thoughts about the possible future options. Given this background, King Albert II dissolved the legislature, calling for new elections, which took place on June 13, 2010. Subsequent to these elections, the New Flemish Alliance, a centre-right political party, led by Bart de Wever, won, having one more seat (27 in total) in comparison to the francophone Socialist Party (PS), a social-democratic party, henceforth, making it the dominant party in the Parliament.

Following the general elections of June 2010 in Belgium, fears raised that this country might split even before taking office. However, Belgium seemed quite aware of the fact that it is the first country to work under the Lisbon Treaty provisions, and this was incentive enough to help it set clear its priorities, putting on top of its list the economic crisis, climate change and EU security policy. Belgium celebrated its presidency Saturday, the 3rd of July, with simultaneous dances in 12 different Belgian cities, thus manifesting its dedication towards both the Union and its duties as state holding the Presidency.

Gradual split

With the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) in power there is the fear that what is coming up next will be the dissolution of Belgium and the existence of Flanders separately from Wallonia. There is a possibility of witnessing this country coming to its end as we know it before the next elections, all in the midst of Belgian vulnerability on the financial markets. According to Reuters, Belgium is now the third EU member state with problems when it comes to debt-to-GDP ratio, the first two being Greece and Italy, and might soon overcome them.

European heads expressed their concerns over the fact that the current political circumstances, specifically the N-VA's convictions, will have some influence over the Belgium presidency of the EU, which started July 1st 2010. At the beginning it was thought that the entire situation might result in Belgium's incapacity of assuming office, but now it resides in a fear over the attention with which Belgium will handle the most important European problems.

According to the Huffington Post, Bart de Wever, leader of N-VA, hurried to assure that the Belgium Presidency will not be affected by its internal turmoil, as well as also stated that he will seek to negotiate with the Socialist Party (SP), urging that "Flanders and Wallonia must be masters of their own fate". If a coalition with the PS is made, PS leader Elio di Rupo could become the next Prime Minister. Belgian elections resembled to the spring 2010 Dutch elections which resulted in Geert Wilders' win. But, while he is commonly known for being anti-Muslim and anti-immigration, there is an essential difference between the two men: de Wever is pro-European, which means that he will most likely not jeopardise the Presidency of the Council of the EU during Belgium 6-months mandate.

De Wever did voice a desire for a split, but a gradual one. There is a fear that the collapse of Belgium as country will, most likely, have strong negative effects on the Eurozone as well; the country which calls itself the home of the EU institutions and one of the six founding members of the European Communities, might be divided over the choice for Euro, with Flanders, the richer part, being allowed to join the Eurozone, and poor Wallonia not.

Belgian ticking bomb

Apparently, the social and cultural differences, as well as language barriers, raise the question if the people still want to be one state. Looking at the results of the recent elections this seems like a good question, as it was presumed that a strong federal government could put things into piece. But, since 2007 Belgium has witnessed four governments until now and none seemed to make a vital improvement in the lives of Belgians as a whole, with Flanders getting more prosperous and Wallonia remaining poorer, all on the background of a fragile federal unity.

Whatever will be decided, two things seem quite clear so far, and the way Belgium welcomed its Presidency seems to confirm at least one of them: Belgium wants to hold on to the idea of Europe and to get through well with their EU 2010 presidency; a reorganization of Belgium is on its way, which might lead to a split or not. Fundamentally, there is no immediate end to Belgium, but the situation is precarious, like a ticking bomb waiting to be armed and set to explode.



(Published: 12.07.2010.)