2007–2011 Belgian political crisis

2007–2011 Belgian political crisis
Timeline 2007 elections 2007–2008 government formation Verhofstadt III (interim) Leterme I Van Rompuy I Leterme II 2010 elections 2010–2011 government formation Di Rupo I Sixth state reform
See also Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde Partition of Belgium State reform in Belgium Politics of Belgium Cabinet of Belgium

The 2007–2011 Belgian political crisis was a period of tense communal relations and

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, it took the parties 196 days, i.e. over 6 months, following the election, to form an interim government. That set a record as the longest Belgian government formation, one that has since been broken by the 2010 formation.

Verhofstadt III

On 17 December 2007, incumbent

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.[11] Measures would also be taken to strengthen inter-region cooperation; a second package of devolution changes would then be passed before the summer recess.^[12]

Leterme I

An official coalition agreement was signed on 18 March 2008.

After the resignation of Leterme and his cabinet, the King consulted various dignitaries and party leaders. He then appointed

Leterme II

On 24 April 2010, the government of Yves Leterme (who had replaced Van Rompuy again when Van Rompuy became President of the European Council) fell over the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde issue.

2010 federal elections and aftermath

Federal elections

An

The various political parties had not succeeded in forming a new government for 541 days, which broke the 2007 record of the longest period without a government.^[19] During that period several people had made failed attempts to create an agreement, until Elio Di Rupo finally succeeded (in chronological order and all appointed by the King):

• Bart De Wever (Leader of N-VA) as informateur: 17 June 2010 – 8 July 2010
• PS
  ) as pre-formateur: 9 July 2010 – 3 September 2010
• President of the Chamber of Representatives
  ; PS) as mediators: 4 September 2010 – 5 October 2010
• De Wever as clarificator: 8 October 2010 – 18 October 2010
• SP.A
  ) as mediator: 21 October 2010 – 26 January 2011
• MR
  ) as informateur: 2 February 2011 – 1 March 2011
• CD&V
  ) as negotiator: 2 March 2011 – 12 May 2011
• Di Rupo as formateur: 16 May 2011 – 6 December 2011
• Di Rupo as Prime Minister: since 6 December 2011

Provisions and speculation on the possible partition of Belgium

Towards the end of July 2011, as government formation had been dragging on for over a year, party leaders of the separatist Walloon Rally (which does not have any seats in parliament) have had talks with the Union for a Popular Movement party of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the French Socialists. These talks resulted in that, in the event of the split with Flanders, Wallonia could become the 28th region of France. A poll of the French daily newspaper Le Figaro suggests that around half of Walloons and around 66% of French Republic citizens favour this plan.^[20]

The Belgian minister for Climate and Energy, Paul Magnette, also suggested to incorporate Wallonia into Germany instead of France if the crisis in Belgium were to escalate. Although over 71,000 people on the Walloon-German border speak German as their first language, the vast majority of Walloons are French speakers. Thus arises the possibility that, if Wallonia had become part of France, the German-speaking towns might have been absorbed by Germany.^[21]

Impact

A 2019 study found that the government formation deadlock did not harm economic growth in Belgium.^[22]

References