Thousands of Belgians rally against political stalemate

Belgians rallied in the streets of Brussels on the 23 January 2011, calling for an end to the political impasse that has seen their country go without a formal government for more than seven months.

Johan Vande Lanotte, a mediator appointed to reconcile the French and Dutch-speaking political parties involved in coalition talks, threw in the towel for the second time in one month on the 26 January 2011, plunging the country further into political paralysis.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Belgian general election, 2010 http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgian-general-election-2010/

ESO: Background information: Conduit for crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/conduit-for-crisis/

ESO: Background information: Belgian political turmoil stokes bail-out fears http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgian-political-turmoil-stokes-bail-out-fears/

PressEurop, 28.1.11: We are all Belgians http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/editorial/481861-we-are-all-belgians

De Morgen, 27.1.11: Surprise... still no government (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/479671-surprise-still-no-government

EurActiv, 27.1.11: Belgium mediator quits for second time, deepening crisis http://www.euractiv.com/elections/belgium-mediator-quits-second-ti-news-501642

Deutsche Welle, 26.1.11: Negotiator quits efforts to end Belgian political stalemate http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14798144,00.html

BBC News, 24.1.11: Belgian 'Shame' march demands unity and government http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12263423

EurActiv, 24.1.11: Belgians march for the country's unity http://www.euractiv.com/en/elections/belgians-march-countrys-unity-news-501501

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