Is Belgium Politically Stable?

[black_cat51]

Thank you

[DTCwordfan]

Why do you ask?

[black_cat51]

Because i'd like to know

[DTCwordfan]

Yes

[Fibonacci]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Belgium

[DTCwordfan]

and No

[DTCwordfan]

Economically yes, they have their regional spats and if one sees the break up of the UK, it may well be that Belgium splits on the basis of language - but then one could argue the same for Italy and Germany going back to a more regionally based system, akin to Machiavellian times. And of course, the likes of the Catalans and Basques breaking away too.

[Buenchico]

Any country that can survive 589 days without an elected government in power (as Belgium did from 2010 to 2011), with hardly a murmur of protest from its people, must surely be regarded as a model of stability!

[black_cat51]

perhaps i don't mean politically. I have a friend who works for a "government department". She told me if she was going to belgium on holiday (along with a long list of other countries) she would need a briefing first. I just wondered if it was a hotbed of spying and subterfuge. It didn't seem like a likely candidate

[DTCwordfan]

I would recommend contacting MI6 on this one you have posed.

What a strange question/perception when pertaining to travel.

[EcclesCake]

Belgium is home to NATO and SHAPE, unless your friend is on the wrong side of the NATO community I am surprised by her claim.

[2sp_]

When I worked for a "government department" they really couldn't have cared less where I went on holiday.

But I worked for the Department of Agriculture, so no risk to national security there.

Which department does your friend work for?

[black_cat51]

what is SHAPE?

[DTCwordfan]

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

[black_cat51]

sounds like the man from UNCLE :)

[EcclesCake]

SHAPE = Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. A branch of NATO.

[DTCwordfan]

and of course the European Union and, hence, the European Commission - probably well worth a good bit of spying.

[mikey4444]

As Belgium would win any prize for the most boring country in the world, then I guess it IS stable !

[Old_Geezer]

589 days without an elected government in power ? So why did they eventually put one in ? They don't seem to be needed.

[New Judge]

I think it sums up governments in general, OG.

I have always maintained that local government in the UK is a complete waste of time and money and only serves to encourage busybodies to interfere with the smooth running of people’s lives. Nobody would miss elected local government, a fortune could be saved and the dustbins could be emptied (along with the other minor tasks they spend a fortune accomplishing) under the management of an executive acting under devolved powers from central government.

Belgium seems to have gone one step further but they seem content to be ruled by the EU anyway (handily resident in their capital city, apart from their monthly sojourn to Strasbourg). Of course the root cause of their rudderless 18 months was the ridiculous proportional representation voting system they use which virtually guarantees a hung parliament and the accompanying wheeler-dealing that follows to form a government. It is no coincidence that such a scheme is favoured by the LibDems (and which led to them throwing their toys from the pram when moves towards it were soundly rejected by the electorate). They, of course, crave for a hung Parliament as it is the only means they have of gaining a sniff of power. Their leader also loves the EU with a passion (not least because he took around £1m in pay, allowances and pension for the five years he spent as an MEP and has eyes on the EU Presidency when finally rejected by UK voters). So he probably wouldn’t mind the UK being rudderless for a time (and so more likely to have changes imposed by the EU) whilst his party gets some spare keys cut to No. 10.

Until, that is, the UK Parliament is reduced to the status of a Parish Council governed from Brussels (oh, and Strasbourg once a month).

[Prudie]

I work for a Government department and there is a list of countries that you have to seek prior advise about but Belgium has never been on the list. Mind you we once jokingly told a colleague who was about to go on honeymoon that Tenerife was communist and he had to get permission - and he believed us - now a reasonably high grade pen pusher :-)