After 192 days of no-government government, Belgium’s prime minister was able to announce today that a new government will be formed “before Christmas”. A temporary government, évidemment.
The government is temporary, meaning that its main function will be to create a new budget, including the usual tax raise no doubt, and preparing new elections.
To make it all a lot more fun, the government will consist of five parties, two Flemish (Dutch speaking) ones and three Francophone ones.
The two Flemish ones: CD&V, a centre party with very close connections to the Catholics, the main official subsidised religion. Open VLD, a centre right party.
The three Francophone ones: PS, a socialist party. MR, a combination of centre right and extremist Francophone parties. CDH, a centre party with very close connections to the Catholics, the main official subsidised religion.
There will be 14 ministers in the government, 7 for the Flemings and 7 for the Francophones. This may seem strange. Although the Francophones are a minority in the country, they always get 50% of the ministers (parity).
Four ministers come from CD&V. Open VLD, MR and PS each get three. CDH has to be happy with one.
In all, this seems a typical Belgian government: incoherent, mixed, not hindered by any noteworthy abilities. That is, if it gets formed at all, since there is no such thing as certainty in Belgium.
