Belgium Taps Legislator to Defuse `Political Crisis’ (James G. Neuger, Aug. 29, 2007, Bloomberg)
Belgium’s king, warning of a “political crisis,” tapped the head of the lower house of Parliament to explore options for forming a new government after an 11-week standoff between French and Flemish parties spurred concerns that the country might break apart.
The head of the Flemish Christian Democrats, Yves Leterme, last week abandoned a bid to put together a coalition as French- speaking parties torpedoed demands for the transfer of more power to Flanders, the country’s wealthier northern region.
With Belgium lacking a new government almost three months after national elections, the king described the deadlock as a “crisis,” and a poll showed that fewer than a third of Belgians are certain that the country will still exist in 10 years.
Another one of FDR’s quagmires.
