- BRUSSELS: Belgium marks an anniversary Tuesday, but no one in this country of 10.5 million people is celebrating.
- One year ago, King Albert II accepted the resignation of the government and one election and countless negotiating sessions later, the search for a new governing coalition is still continuing.
Ever since the June 13 elections, negotiations have snarled over the linguistic divisions and the future make up of the country, with parties representing the 6 million Flemings seeking more autonomy in line with their wealth and the 4.5 million Francophones trying to keep together a sense of Belgian nationhood.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yves Leterme said Tuesday that up to three more months could be required to form a coalition. European Union President Herman Van Rompuy, who was Belgian prime minister before going to the EU in December 2009, called the situation “ pitiful.”
