No problem!Quote:
Originally Posted by Furunculus
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No problem!Quote:
Originally Posted by Furunculus
Of course not, it isn't like they all get roadkilled when walking drunk on the road if they don't get alcohol poisoning first or overdose on amphitamins. Just many. Not all. No stereotype.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarmatian
Actually it is true. Unless the brewery uses the relatively new and hightech tetrahop.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarmatian
We made it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdCrZfTkG1c
:cheerleader:
I'd like to thank our heroic politicians for this wonderful achievement! A job well done!
~:cheers:
LEVE BELGIE! VIVE LA BELGIQUE!
To reward themselves for their achievements, Belgian members of the federal parliament gave themselves a salary raise of 3.000,00 €, on top of the yearly indexation. Very well deserved, I'd say.
Honestly: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...c7d922daa82f9c
Say it ain't so guys!
since they are obviously over-governed given that the country continues to function without a federal government, you think there dire financial peril might be an opportunity to divest themselves of so much wasted money?
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010...orroding-core/
~:cheers: :cheerleader: ~:cheers: :cheerleader: ~:cheers::cheerleader: ~:cheers::cheerleader: ~:cheers:
VIVE LA BELGIQUE! LEVE BELGIE!
L'UNION FAIT LA FARCE!!!
Quote:
Belgium reaches one year without a full government
As Belgium marks one year without a government, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has called the political impasse "extremely pitiful".
The former Belgian prime minister told the De Standaard newspaper that the country would need a full government soon to decide on economic policy. Member states are required to put long-term economic planning past the EU.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yves Leterme has said three more months might be needed to form a governing coalition. Mr Leterme succeeded Mr Van Rompuy as prime minister in November 2009, but resigned in April 2010 after his government collapsed. He stayed on as caretaker until early elections in June. The separatist New Flemish Alliance (NVA) emerged as the largest single grouping. The French and Flemish Socialists together won more seats overall.
NVA leader Bart De Wever has been unable to form a coalition administration since, far outstripping the world record recently set by Iraq
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13199653
:belgium: :cheerleader: :france: ~:cheers: :belgium: ~:cheers::france::cheerleader::belgium:
https://img822.imageshack.us/img822/...walloniefr.jpg
What's that pic there all about Louis?
I was under the impression that the Wallonians were less concerned with their own roots than the Flemish were, and thus were happier with the idea of Belgium. I never knew there was any real talk of uniting them with France. Is there?
:laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Moros
Nobody over here gets news of Belgium, so how is life without a federal government? I thinks it funny that the reason Van Rompuy uses to push towards a government is EU paperwork. :laugh4:
It may be my imperfect grasp of the English language but is Van Rompuy doing?Quote:
Originally Posted by drone
Maybe not, but that what this sounds like.Quote:
Originally Posted by BBC
Not so different than life with a federal government, really. Makes one wonder what the heck we need a government for :thinking:Quote:
Originally Posted by drone
The picture is a demonstration by the RWF, a group that strives to unite Wallonia and Bruxelles with France. The group, the ideology, is not that big - yet. But at some point Wallonia will have to decide, whether it wants to remain orientated towards Belgium, towards independence, or towards eventual union with France.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhyfelwr
The project of Wallonia has always been Belgium. The project of Flanders is Flanders.
With the dismantling of the Belgian state Wallonia is forced to choose a direction. If Belgium evaporates, then what? Flanders is a nation, Wallonia is not. Therefore, it is commonly assumed that a Belgian split will result in an independent Flanders and a union of Wallonia with France. The unsolvable Brussels is what keeps Belgium together. Neither side wants to give it up.
The goal of France has always been to support a francophone Belgium, a French mini-me. Sadly the insolent Flemish will have none of it anymore, just out of some childish spite for being called inferior peasants for 150 years. :yes:
Failing francophone overlordship over Belgium, a Belgium orientated towards Paris, to me the goal of Paris now ought to be Plan B: to hold off for as long as possible the dreaded day that France, and no longer Flanders, will have to bear the cost for the bankrupt post-industrial Wallonia wasteland.
Not that I'm not holding my breath, for it is entirely against all French political instinct to reject adding four million people and a new region - if only because itwill make Berlin sweat at the prospect of paritywill further ease the eternal French fear of being a junior partner in the Berlin-Paris axis, the more pressing with every year that Germany emancipates from war guilt.
Europe must know that if Wallonia and Brussels share a common destiny with France, they clearly remain open to intensive forms of cooperation with all the other nations of Europe, including the Flemish nation.
Belgium has never been a true nation. It is virtually no longer a State. The various dysfunctions and recurrent crises of the authorities in place bear witness to the well-nigh congenital impotence of a state apparatus undermined by Flemish nationalism.
Flanders regularly call into question the most solemn agreements and renegotiates to its advantage compromises already reached. Generally speaking, Flanders considers that reform of the State is never a done deal.
In point of fact Flanders, which is a nation, already has in its possession the constituent elements of a State. In its drive to become "een Vlaamse Staat in Europa" (a Flemish State in Europe), is de facto preparing its independence. One day, it will become evident that there is no room for two States (Flanders and Belgium) within a single territory. That is why it is behoven upon the Walloons and the inhabitants of Brussels to prepare their future, which will not be the result of further bipartisan negotiations decided on and laid down by Flanders. Beyond all else, Wallonia must rediscover and revitalise its true national identity, which is French.
Such a prior national foundation is not ethnic nationalism linked to blood and land, but rather a voluntary signing-up to an overall political and cultural project, that project is quite simply the French republican ideas of democracy in liberty and equality.
http://rwf.be/pages/Manifeste_anglais.html
Well, for all intent and purposes, Belgium does have a functioning government. It is still in power. It is just not legitimised by last year's election result. This will be a problem when controversial decisions must be made. Or when Belgium is asked to fulfill its international obligations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andres
Edit: (Yes, I realise that 'international obligation' is a swear word in today's populist Europe, provoking the same allergic response in today's culture as does 'behaving in public', 'no littering', 'no cutting in lines')
Welcome to US-style libertarianism.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andres
Why does Belgium exist?? I get Flanders or Basque nationalism etc etc but was Belgium not just some made up nation due to a peace treaty with UK or summit just like Uruguay.
It doesn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by gaelic cowboy
Evidence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andres
Now it all makes sense :yes: the Lizard Aliens and the NWO who are keeping free energy under wraps created Belgium to destroy the world
If this "divorce" does take place, how likely is it that Wallonia would join France? It's not something that I would advice, I heard through the grapevine that Wallonia is something of a gold digger. It would be beneficial to Flanders though, since that would end their alimony obligations. I doubt that Flanders and the Netherlands would join. Flemish people are nice, but they're just not our type.
If that means the Flemish get the royal family, Wallonia should be forced to pay for child support.Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis VI, quoting the RWF
They still have about 5 different governments carrying on as usual, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh
You're back! :jumping:Quote:
Originally Posted by Kralizec
A split of Belgium means the end of the Belgian First Welfare Receiving Family. Flanders won't have 'em. France would love to have them, but considering we want them for a popular entertainment show on the Place de la Concorde, the family itself might be a bit reluctant.
Not that it matters. Belgium simply had the poor timing to become independent during the Restauration period in the 19th century. So the powers that be demanded Belgium become a hereditary monarchy. Therefore they put an ad in Europe's newspapers, 'Newly independent country seeks unemployed aristocratic male. Must be of functioning procreation capability. No further qualifications required. Preferably housetrained and not prone to droole in public.'
That's all. It has always been a temporary job, just a few generations who play monarch while the Flemings and Walloons play Belgians. :shrug:
The Padanians can have them :yes:
Only after flowers, chocolates, and a hint of romance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotan
Dear God, Louis, don't you start!* If I am to be taken to the tumbrils, please let the proclamation be spelt correctly!Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
It's clear to me. Wallonia should join Quebec.
The federal gov't here would be powerless to stop it. (If only the bloc had jumped on it for the election...)
Actually, the roles were reversed from the late '40s to the '60s, if memory serves. Walloons wanted separation and the Flemish wanted to maintain Belgium (and the king). Earlier, in the interwar period, the roles had been reversed again. It's a very confusing dance, Belgium :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis IV the Fat