Belgium now officially has a government. The 541 days of political deadlock have come to an end today as French-speaking socialist Elio Di Rupo was sworn in by King Albert II as the new prime minister. Di Rupo is the son of Italian immigrants from Abruzzo, also known for being gay and behaving stereotypically like one. He is the first Francophone prime minister in Belgium in 47 years. The last one was Edmond Leburton, who only served a one-year term in 1973-74. He was also the last socialist before Di Rupo.
I am not exactly thrilled by the news since the French-speaking socialist party represents everything that is twisted and wrong about Belgium - corruption, monstrous waste of public funds, overly generous nanny state, immigration policy giving priority to refugees and third world uneducated immigrants over qualified workers, etc. ad nauseam.
Belgium has beaten the record for the country which has gone the longest without a government. The previous record was held by Cambodia with 182 days. Belgium did almost exactly three times longer and got a clown as prime minister ! From my point of view Belgium was still better off with a temp government. It feels like things were rushed to deal with the Euro-zone crisis, which is reaching a climax this week.
I am not exactly thrilled by the news since the French-speaking socialist party represents everything that is twisted and wrong about Belgium - corruption, monstrous waste of public funds, overly generous nanny state, immigration policy giving priority to refugees and third world uneducated immigrants over qualified workers, etc. ad nauseam.
Belgium has beaten the record for the country which has gone the longest without a government. The previous record was held by Cambodia with 182 days. Belgium did almost exactly three times longer and got a clown as prime minister ! From my point of view Belgium was still better off with a temp government. It feels like things were rushed to deal with the Euro-zone crisis, which is reaching a climax this week.
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