ROYAL FORUM: ‘Shame’ protest in Brussels calls for a Belgian government (Al Jazeera Inside Story)

Tens ofthousands of Belgians have staged a march to call for national unity and demanda government after seven months of political impasse. ( See BBC Report Here )

‘Shame’ protest in Brussels calls for a Belgian government:

About 50,000 people joined the “Shame: no government, great country” march inBrussels, organisers said. Police put the number at 34,000.

Belgium isdivided between Dutch speakers in the north and French speakers in the south.

A caretakergovernment has run the country since elections in June 2010.

The bestperformer in that vote was the centre-right New Flemish Alliance (NVA) partyheaded by Bart De Wever, which wants more power for Flanders and has spoken ofultimately pursuing independence.

‘Beer, chips and a government’

The party hasbeen unable to agree on a government in negotiations with with FrancophoneSocialists, resulting in a deadlock that has lasted 224 days – a Europeanrecord.

The stalematehas led to fears that the wealthier, Flemish north could secede.

The march,organised on the social networking website Facebook, was one of severalinitiatives by campaigners for unity.

Inside Story – Belgium in crisis – 04 Dec 07 (Al Jazeera):

Part I:

Part II:

“We wantbeer, chips and a government,” said one banner, referring to two ofBelgium’s best known products.

One of theorganisers, Thomas Decreus, said the march was meant to show that “thepeople can act where politicians fail: i.e., working together across thelanguage barrier”.

The financialmarkets have been unsettled by the political crisis and concerns that Belgiansovereign debt is close to 100% of gross domestic product.

In one of theother efforts to promote Belgian unity, actor Benoit Poelvoorde is heading acampaign for people not to shave until a government is formed.

So far, 653 people have signed up on the campaign’s website – including atleast one woman who pledged to stop shaving her legs.

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