2007–2008 Belgian political crisis

The 2007–2008 Belgian political crisis is an ongoing period of communautarian tensions and political instability in Belgium, mostly caused by the different opinions about the need and the extent of a state reform. The crisis is considered to be one of the longest and most intense political crises that the country has faced in its 178 years of existence.

Federal elections (10 June 2007)

Of the Flemish parties, the alliance of Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V) and the New-Flemish Alliance (N-VA) received an increased share of the vote from the previous election, held in 2003. The CD&V/N-VA list was headed by Yves Leterme, and became the largest political formation in Belgium, thus leading the coalition talks for a new government. The list campaigned heavily on the need for a far-reaching reform of the Belgian state.

In French-speaking Belgium, the liberal party Reformist Movement managed to defeat the long-dominant Socialist Party (PS), although the PS remained strong.

Formation negotiations (11 June – 16 December 2007)

After the election, a Christian-democratic and liberal coalition was proposed. Because of the differing views on the need for a state reform on both sides of the language border, parties were able to form an interim government only 196 days after the election.

Verhofstadt III (17 December 2007 – 19 March 2008)

On 17 December 2007, incumbent PM Guy Verhofstadt was asked by the King of the Belgians Albert II to start the formation of an interim government that would last until 23 March 2008, when Leterme would take over.

Belgium's political uncertainty intensified when Yves Leterme was hospitalised on February 2008. [cite news
url=http://lesoir.be/actualite/belgique/yves-leterme-hospitalise-2008-02-14-577630.shtml
title=Leterme hospitalisé à Louvain
publisher=Le Soir
date=2008-02-14
accessdate=2008-02-14
language=French] He remained in the hospital for several days but it was soon made clear that his health would not prevent him from assuming premiership.

A first preliminary deal was reached on 25 February 2008. It was agreed that some powers over industrial policy and housing would be transferred from the federal government to the regions. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7263246.stm|title=Deal eases Belgian political woes|date=2008-02-25] Measures would also be taken to strengthen inter-region cooperation; a second, further-reaching package of devolution changes would then be passed before the summer recess. [cite news|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6360945.html|title='Wise men' strike devolution deal|date=2008-02-26]

Leterme I (20 March – present)

An official coalition agreement was signed on 18 March 2008. [cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jz9mB2UhguIDcWPxPjYqcRJPr3ugD8VFOMD01|title=ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jz9mB2UhguIDcWPxPjYqcRJPr3ugD8VFOMD01 ] Yves Leterme was sworn in on 20 March 2008 [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7399468|title=www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7399468 ] .

In the late hours of July 14, 2008, after months of negotiations regarding the constitutional reform and electoral arrondissement Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde failed and with the deadline of July 15, 2008 within reach, Leterme offered the resignation of his cabinet to King Albert II. After a series of consultations, King Albert II decided to reject Prime Minister Leterme's resignation on July 17. The royal palace said that the King had asked two senior French-speaking politicians, Ministers of State François-Xavier de Donnea (MR) and Raymond Langendries (CdH), and the Minister-President of the German-speaking Community, Karl-Heinz Lambertz (SP), to establish how to start talks about institutional reform. [ [http://www.deredactie.be/cm/de.redactie/politiek/1.340848 Crisis in de Wetstraat] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7512975.stm Belgian PM's resignation rejected] ] They reported back to the King on 19 september 2001 with a report that was no longer then one page. This was due to the fact that they didn't want to scare either of the communities out of the negotiations. [ [http://www.deredactie.be/cm/de.redactie/politiek/1.382990] ] Only a few hours later Didier Reynders angered the Dutch speaking politicians with some controversial statements and so sparking a crisis within the Flemish government.On 21 September 2008, the N-VA withdrew its parliamentary support for the federal government, saying that the 15 month long negotiations failed to result into a state reform. The withdrawal of support plunged the country in another crisis. [ [http://www.deredactie.be/cm/de.redactie/politiek/080921_nva_congres NVA zegt steun op] ] Under pressure of the socialist and liberal coalition partners, the only N-VA minister in the Flemish government (Geert Bourgeois) resigned his post. [ [http://www.deredactie.be/cm/de.redactie/politiek/080922_bourgeois_ontslag Bourgeois neemt ontslag] ]

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7506640.stm BBC News report]