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My sympathies Camilla Send a noteboard - 26/04/2010 06:13:25 PM
Why is Belgian government so unstable? Are the parties extra belligerent?

Largely because instead of having a socialist, liberal, Christian-dem, green and far-right party like other countries, we have two of each of those. Or had, anyway; right now, we have six major parties in Flanders, and four in Wallonia, used to be five and likely will return to five before too long. So even in federal elections, Flemings can only vote for Flemish parties, and same in Wallonia - there are no country-wide parties. And apart from the general policy differences - with Walloon parties in general being significantly more left-wing than their Flemish counterparts - there are the language disputes that essentially pit Flemings and Walloons against each other, with any party that tries to bridge the gaps accused of being a traitor to its community.

We should have realized a long time ago that we needed *some* kind of election in which Flemings could vote for Walloon parties and vice versa, in order to make such bigoted anti-other-language plays self-defeating. But we didn't, and any attempt to introduce such a thing now is likely to fail as the most nationalistic parties will fight it tooth and nail.


That does sound like a very bad situation.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
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British politics is ... like a basket of crazy muffins. But they taste nice. - 26/04/2010 09:34:57 AM 932 Views
British politics or muffins taste nice? Or both? - 26/04/2010 10:52:35 AM 623 Views
Both - 26/04/2010 05:11:54 PM 781 Views
You are crazy in the head - 26/04/2010 05:20:06 PM 650 Views
Re: You are crazy in the head - 26/04/2010 05:23:00 PM 568 Views
Indeed - 26/04/2010 11:01:30 AM 700 Views
Re: Indeed - 26/04/2010 11:06:10 AM 602 Views
Didn't mean to put the effectively in there - 26/04/2010 11:17:20 AM 559 Views
That makes more sense - 26/04/2010 11:24:33 AM 712 Views
They've been trying to work out exactly what her powers are... - 26/04/2010 01:31:04 PM 786 Views
It is interesting - 26/04/2010 02:13:21 PM 635 Views
Re: Indeed - 26/04/2010 05:14:29 PM 817 Views
Yeah, I follow elections in lots of countries. - 26/04/2010 11:11:28 AM 745 Views
Re: Yeah, I follow elections in lots of countries. - 26/04/2010 05:17:55 PM 679 Views
Re: Yeah, I follow elections in lots of countries. - 26/04/2010 05:56:51 PM 585 Views
My sympathies - 26/04/2010 06:13:25 PM 882 Views
It's all very entertaining. - 26/04/2010 01:46:25 PM 647 Views
Re: It's all very entertaining. - 26/04/2010 05:21:25 PM 763 Views
- 28/04/2010 02:49:51 PM 706 Views
Im assuming youre back in your country now... - 26/04/2010 03:28:53 PM 651 Views
Well, not "my" country, technically, - 26/04/2010 05:22:20 PM 577 Views
I just like hearing them talk *NM* - 26/04/2010 06:25:05 PM 282 Views
So do they. *NM* - 26/04/2010 06:26:00 PM 262 Views
LOL! *NM* - 26/04/2010 06:33:02 PM 343 Views
Big fucking deal. Coalitions of less than 5 parties = LAME *NM* - 28/04/2010 12:03:36 AM 256 Views

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