Belgium celebrates ‘world record’ in govt talks

While politicians wallow in Belgium’s longest political crisis which pits the leaders of 6 million Dutch-speaking Flemings against those of 4.5 million Francophones, people from around the country are uniting in celebration of crisis day No. 249 on Thursday — which many see as equaling the world record for trying to form a government, held by Iraq. In Ghent, they hope 249 people will mark the days of the crisis as part of a party expected to draw thousands. There will be free fries, Belgium’s beloved national dish, in Leuven and lots of Belgian beverage in the French-speaking town of Louvain-la-Neuve. In short, parties galore for what many across the world would consider a humiliation.