Belgian coalition collapses as liberals pull out

Belgium’s federal government collapsed on the 22 April 2010, its fragile five-party coalition driven apart by long-standing tensions between its French and Dutch-speaking factions. The King of Belgium accepted the resignation of the government on the 26 April 2010.

The turmoil came just two months before Belgium was to take on the rotating presidency of the European Union on the 1 July 2010.

Is Belgium is on the verge of falling apart at the seams. At the heart of the crisis, disputes over rights and privileges of French and Flemish speakers in the bilingual constituency of BHV, or Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde.

Le Soir, 23.4.10: Does Belgium still make any sense? (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/238531-does-belgium-still-make-any-sense

BBC News, 24.4.10: Belgian King Albert in bid to end government crisis http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8641574.stm

EurActiv, 27.4.10: Belgium heading for elections as government collapses http://www.euractiv.com/en/elections/belgium-poised-head-new-elections-after-governments-collapse-news-485148

De Standaard, 4.5.10: Are last-gasp elections invalid? (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/244861-are-last-gasp-elections-invalid

ESO: Background information: Van Rompuy leaves hole in Belgian politics http://www.europeansources.info/record/van-rompuy-leaves-hole-in-belgian-politics/

EurActiv, 22.4.10: Belgian government on brink of collapse http://www.euractiv.com/en/elections/belgian-government-on-the-brink-of-collapse-news-470910

BBC News, 22.4.10: Belgian prime minister 'to resign' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8637459.stm

France24, 22.4.10: Prime Minister Leterme resigns after liberals quit government http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-belgium-leterme-resigns-vld-liberals-democrats-quit-ruling-coalition

EurActiv, 27.5.10: Leterme offers reassurances on Belgian EU Presidency http://www.euractiv.com/en/priorities/leterme-offers-reassurances-on-belgian-eu-presidency-news-494550

EurActiv, 2.6.10: Belgium promises 'rupture' during EU presidency http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/belgium-promises-rupture-eu-pres-news-494765

De Standaard, 27.4.10: Who wants to govern this country? (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/240051-who-wants-govern-country

Spiegel Online International, 27.4.10: Belgian Political Crisis Lost in Translation http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,691546,00.html

Trouw, 22.4.10: Flemish and Francophones, into the void (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/237421-flemish-and-francophones-void

Deutsche Welle, 22.4.10: Belgian prime minister offers resignation to king http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5493706,00.html

ESO: Background information: Belgium set to ban Islamic full veil http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgium-set-to-ban-islamic-full-veil/

Deutsche Welle, 26.4.10: Belgian government bites the dust once again http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5509149,00.html

BBC News, 26.4.10: Belgium's king accepts Yves Leterme's resignation http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8645344.stm

Le Soir, 28.4.10: Crisis? What Belgian crisis? (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/240801-crisis-what-belgian-crisis

Le Soir, 17.5.10: Unity in apathy (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/252641-unity-apathy

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