If you think a few days of “government shutdown” in the U.S. is bad, consider that in 2010-2011, Belgium had a political crisis that prevented formation of a government for 589 days. But that’s not the case in Belgium, as the budget was already sliding off the rails. If you do not have a login you can register here. BRUSSELS — Belgium, proportionally still the worst-hit nation in Europe when it comes to coronavirus cases, said Wednesday there are increasing signs that a turning point in the crisis was drawing close. The leaders of the two biggest parties on either side of Belgium’s language divide — Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever and Paul Magnette of the Francophone Socialists, both appointed by the king to form a government — could not be further apart on the issue. As in other countries, the impact of the crisis on the budget has been considerable, and the situation is set to deteriorate significantly in the coming months. 2. On the economic side, things don’t look that good either. People wear protective face masks as they carry groceries in the center of Brussels, amid the outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus. Latest news, analysis and comment on migration in Europe and beyond. “I will remain until the government can provide a replacement,” he said. Because of the crisis, Belgium needs a “strong government that can pursue a sound socio-economic recovery policy,” he added. And yet, Belgium doesn’t have a choice, said Johan Van Overtveldt, the former Belgian finance minister who now chairs the European Parliament’s budget committee. “The budgetary considerations are not our first priority at this point,” Van Overtveldt said. “The main reason we need a full government now is to stop tinkering at the edges and start tackling the big reforms,” a spokesperson for the Flemish Socialist Party said.
People wear protective face masks as they carry groceries in the center of Brussels, amid the outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus. Parties also didn’t agree on who should take the lead of this new government. If the country can get along without a top tier of federal ministers burning money in ministerial cars and the like — particularly in a country with multiple interlocking layers of political power — it might seem an attractive proposition for some. BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium, proportionally still the worst-hit nation in Europe when it comes to coronavirus cases, said Wednesday there are increasing signs that a turning point in the crisis was drawing close. Belgium’s problem handling the corona crisis is not just political.
The caretaker government had been able, for example, to approve a law that will allocate additional resources to the authority after its powers were expanded to go after large companies strong-arming smaller ones in supply chain negotiations, Steenbergen explained. Eurozone crisis forces Belgium to finally form a government This article is more than 8 years old Eurozone crisis forces Belgian politicians to act and form a … That enables Wilmès’ team to take the necessary measures without having to look for support in parliament first. With those negotiations ongoing, here are four reasons why Belgium needs government: Belgium’s parliament has not voted on a proper budget since 2017. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on the continent. Over the past 20 years, the money poured into pensions has grown twice as fast as Belgium’s GDP.
“Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands are obviously in a much more comfortable position.”.
According to July Eurostat data, Belgium’s deficit in the first quarter of 2020 increased more than any other EU country apart from Malta. “It should be the absolute priority for any European finance minister at this point,” Van Overtveldt said, while at the same time acknowledging that Belgium is not in the ideal situation to launch a form of economic bazooka to counter that downward spiral. And the last time Belgium went for a prolonged period without a federal executive (it took 541 days to form a government following the 2010 election), the economy actually grew by 2 percentage points and unemployment fell. Belgium has survived long periods without a government before, but without leadership from the top, major societal challenges are getting worse. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on German politics. EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, who oversees economic policy, said officials needed to prioritize the emergency response over fiscal stimulus. Michel’s right-wing government vowed to act urgently on the matter. Belgium Arrests 3 Men Suspected of Involvement in Rwandan Genocide The men, whose identities were not made public, are charged with serious abuse of human rights. There is enough money and we will use it.”. While the levers of the economy are mainly in the hands of the regional governments, which have been in office since July (Brussels region) and September 2019 (Flanders and Wallonia) the federal government plays an important coordinating role. It is Belgium’s federal government that must be the interlocutor with the European institutions. Latest news, analysis and comment on defense in Europe and beyond. With more uncertainty and reduced powers, the government has become a less attractive employer — meaning it is harder to attract and retain top talent. “Many Cabinets are emptying because their members are seeking job security,” Devos said. Latest news, analysis and comment on security in Europe and beyond.
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The Belgian parliament agreed to provide an additional budget of €1 billion to tackle the consequences of coronavirus. Latest news, analysis and comment on security in Europe and beyond. “The high-speed train is slowing down,” said virologist Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano government health group. Changing that would require reforms of the labor market that proved too much for Michel’s administration. Now, we’re facing a crisis in supply at the same time, as companies need more credit to finance their activities and see their international supply chains disrupted. waiving debt limits and state-aid prohibitions.
The financial crisis triggered uncertainty and fear which led to a crisis in demand. Ten parties, including the three in government, will back a plan to give emergency powers to the caretaker government. “We missed crisis management and did not start the recovery. Recovery and economic reform. A solution looks as far off as ever. 6. That hasn’t stopped Belgian politicians finding spending for pet projects though. There were fears that the 2,000 capacity of beds in intensive care units would have been reached by Friday, but Van Gucht said that the increase was somewhat slower there too and now stood at 1,351 beds.
Thursday, 1 October 2020 ... Alexander De Croo, 44 years old, and since 2012 deputy prime minister in the federal government for the Flemish liberals, is the new prime minister of Belgium. Wilmès and her government have proven too weak for that,” Devos said.
Explore the live extension of our journalism, The wonk's survival guide to the EU Green Deal. The storm doesn’t get more perfect than this,” said Carl Devos, a professor in political science at the University of Ghent. November 17-18 — POLITICO's Health Care Summit, November 18 — Energy Visions Series – Carbon removal and natural sinks in reaching climate neutrality by 2050, November 19 — Making digital work for SMEs in Europe. That gives it far less flexibility for any bold spending moves. In 2014, it raised the retirement age from 65 to 67 as from 2030, leading to tensions with trade unions. November 5 — After the U.S. election: Building bridges or walls?
“They can provide crisis management. The coronavirus crisis split the government into “burn out” and “bore out” ministries | Francois Walschaert/AFP via Getty Images. The Belgian government has been in caretaker mode ever since former Prime Minister Charles Michel resigned in December 2018, meaning it can only take decisions on routine or urgent matters and cannot increase public spending. Throughout the crisis, the Belgian population was unified in one thing: The general sense of bewilderment about the ever-changing rules imposed by the different layers of government and a growing confusion caused by clumsy communication. When the coronavirus pandemic erupted in March, parliament approved a system to allow the government of Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès to rule by proxy to deal with the fallout. The announcement came in the wake of increased measures over the past few weeks with bar and restaurant closures capped by a partial lockdown, which started Monday and put further restrictions on gatherings and forced non-essential shops to shut.
This raises particular problems in a country that has struggled to agree on a government since elections in May 2019, and one where the deficit is threatening to balloon out of control. Belgium is the only European country that hasn’t started a real post-COVID economic recovery program yet. Just like Pierre Wunsch, the chief of the National Bank of Belgium, did earlier, he encouraged the government to stimulate the economy to prevent an economic plunge.