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The end of a soap opera, not the movie

Eight parties yesterday sealed a broad agreement to reform the Belgian state after 485 days of negotiations. But it's not all over...

Ups and downs, doors slammed with a bang, more discreet returns, two political divorces (between Flemish nationalists from the N-VA and Christian Democrats from the CD&V, between ultra militants from the FDF and French-speaking Liberals)... no ingredients to a screenwriter to make a good dragging TV series. Not even personal pain - three deaths among the relatives of the negotiators - or happy events. A birth a few days ago, another to come.

relieved

Surrounding Elio di Rupo, the PS chief negotiator, future Prime Minister, the Eight party leaders taking part in the negotiation were therefore all smiles, yesterday, under the chandeliers of the salons of the Chamber of Deputies. Relieved, satisfied, they all had the same document under their arm. This “institutional agreement for the sixth state reform” describes in 75 pages what will be “ the Belgium of tomorrow ". A country " which will be very different from the Belgium of yesterday commented Di Rupo. Belgium will then be a State closer to Germany or even Switzerland than to France or the United Kingdom.

State reform

This agreement is, in fact, a skilful balance between the Flemish demands for autonomy and the desires of the French-speakers to keep certain links of solidarity. He thus confirms the disappearance of the last electoral constituency which brings together Flemish and French speakers around Brussels. But provides for a refinancing of the federated entities. It delegates to the Regions (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia) or to the Communities (French-speaking, German-speaking, Flemish) other powers such as family allowances, part of the highway code and youth legal policy. But not all. The Regions and Communities will be more independent and responsible "while the federal state will be" more compact “, according to Di Rupo.

It's not all over

The Eight still have to negotiate one last point, the socio-economic program of the future government. Not easy! To endorse a drastic program of austerity and tax increases to parties that everything divides, from right to left, is another feat. And, to form the government, the knives are already out. The Flemish Liberal Party does not want Ecolos in government. Either it's them or it's me, launched the young leader of the Liberals, Alexander de Croo. Before Belgium emerges from the longest deadlock in its history, there will still be a few days, and nights, to " work together ».

Nicolas GROS-VERHEYDE.

(article published in Ouest-France on October 12, 2011)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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