News

Jose Manuel Barroso reelected European Commission president, Telegraph (2009)

This article informs about EC President Barroso's re-election as a head of the Commission.

Belgium's king accepts Yves Leterme's resignation, BBC (2010)

Belgium's King Albert has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme's government after the collapse of the ruling coalition. Analysts say elections could take place in June - just before Belgium is due to begin its six-month presidency of the EU.

Belgian Leader Steps Aside, Early Election Ahead, CBS News (2010)

Premier Yves Leterme, whose government collapsed last week, stepped aside Wednesday, paving the way for the first woman who could become Belgium's next prime minister. Marianne Thyssen, 53, will replace Leterme and lead Belgium's long-dominant Dutch-speaking Christian Democrats into early elections, likely in June.

Fall of Belgian coalition likely to spark June poll, Irish Times (2010)

The prospect an early general election in Belgium drew closer yesterday as parliament debated the fallout from the collapse of premier Yves Leterme’s government . Voters are likely to go the polls in June, just before the linguistically divided country takes over the EU’s rotating presidency for a six-month term on July 1st.

Belgium goes to the polls, Flanders Today (2010)

Belgium goes to the polls in June, with a strong chance that the people will elect either the country’s first woman prime minister or the first Walloon since 1973.

Belgium: Parliament dissolves itself, paving the way for June vote, France 24 (2010)

Belgium's parliament dissolved itself Thursday, paving the way for June elections after Prime Minister Yves Leterme's ruling coalition collapsed last month.

Belgian parliament to hold elections in June, The Telegraph (2010)

The government of Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme fell last month after a key member of the five-party coalition, the Flemish liberal Open VLD walked out, frustrated over talks aimed at decreasing special rights for French speakers in Dutch-speaking Flanders.

Belgium:Election 2010: It's a boycott!, Flanders News (2010)

This article discusses Municipal authorities plans to boycott the June 13 in election to protest the current constituency divisions.

Belgium: Election 2010: Computers OKed, Flanders News (2010)

Older computers are deemed acceptable to be sued in the upcoming general election.

Belgium: Election 2010: Few "ethnic" candidates, Flanders News (2010)

This article discusses the lack of candidates from ethnic minorities standing in the June 13 general election in Flanders.

Belgium: Steven Vanackere - 42,489 Belgians abroad will vote, ISRIA (2010)

This is a report that presents the number of Belgian citizens that will vote abroad in the June 13 federal elections. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Steven Vanackere, presented this report.

Drop in Belgians voting abroad , Flanders News (2010)

There has been decline in Belgians registered to vote from abroad from the previous election. This being attributed to the short notice of the election.

Belgium: Poll forecasts landslide, Flanders News (2010)

This article presents the poll forecasts for the upcoming general elections in Belgium.

Belgium: Our first woman Prime Minister? Flanders News (2010)

This article presents the candidacy of Marianne Thyssen as Prime Minister of Belgium for the upcoming elections. Ms Thyssen is the leader of the Flemish Christian Democrats and, if elected, she would become the first woman Prime Minister in the country's history.

Belgium: Language row looms over Belgian election, BBC News

This article discusses the language used in the electoral campaign in Belgium. As the June 13 elections are coming up, political advertising is flourishing. These elections were called after the government collapsed, and ever since the country is going through a political crisis.

Belgium: Flemings know why they're voting, Flanders News (2010)

This article reports on one of the latest surveys to Flemings voters. The majority of the people questioned (82%) knew that in the upcoming elections they were going to vote for the Federal Parliament (and not the regional one).

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Belgium: Flemish nationalists confirm leading position, Flanders News (2010)

This article reports on the latest opinion polls in the Flemish community in Belgium for the upcoming elections.

In Belgium's election, language is the real battle, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the linguistic battle in the electoral campaign in Belgium. French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities are fighting for their political representation.

Belgium separatists look set for poll boost, The Financial Times (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates for the upcoming elections in Belgium. In the Dutch-speaking Flanders region, opinion polls show an increasing support for the separatists parties. There is no similar phenomenon in Wallonia, the poorer French-speaking region.

Belgians just don't speak the same language, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article discusses about the biggest issue on Belgian electoral campaign: the language. The tensions between the French-speaking and the Dutch-speaking communities intensified during these last few weeks.

Belgian polls split by linguistic row, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article comments the latest results of the June 13 elections in Belgium. As predicted, the electorate split: the Flemish nationalists and and French-speaking Socialist Party received the majority of the votes (gaining 27 and 26 seats each in the Parliament).

Separatist party wins most seats in Belgium election, Radio Free Europe (2010)

This article comments the results of the latest elections in Belgium. The Dutch-speaking separatist party won the majority of the seats in the parliament (27 out of 150). This party is well-known for its controversial positions about a possible dissolution of Belgium.

Belgian king to start coalition consultations, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the coalition talks in Belgium. The elections split the Belgian electorate in half: 27 seats to the Dutch-speaking separatist party and 26 seats to the French-speaking Socialist Party. For the time being, it is not very clear which one will form the coalition government.

Belgium will not fall apart because of separatist success, The Guardian (2010)

This article discusses the success of the New Flemish Alliance in the June 13 elections in Belgium. The results of the elections draw attention to the social tensions over the economic crisis, rather than true nationalist feelings.

Deadlock in Belgium, The Hindu (2010)

This article comments the process of coalition building in Belgium after the June 13 elections. The nationalist New Flemish Alliance emerged as the first party in the country (27 seats), while the French-speaking Socialist Party turned out second (26 seats). Coalition talks will likely take months.

Belgian king meets leaders in bid to preserve unity, Bloomberg BussinessWeek (2010)

This article reports on the latest political consultation in Belgium. King Albert II is currently holding meeting with the major parties to discuss the coalition building process. The leader of the Socialist Party, Elio di Rupo, believes that the country will have a coalition government in ten days.

Flemish nationalists picked by Belgian King for talks, Bloomberg BusinessWeek (2010)

This article presents the Belgian King's decision to discuss options for a coalition government with the Flemish nationalist party. In last week's elections in Belgium, the New-Flemish Alliance won 27 of the 150 seats in the Parliament.

The EU: Go-ahead given to the European citizens' initiative, Council of Europe (2011)

The Council of the European Union adopted yesterday a regulation that will make it possible for EU citizens to call for legislative proposals on a specific issue. The European Citizens' Initiative requires support from one quarter of EU member states. The number of required signatures from each of these countries is the number of Members of the European Parliament elected in each member state multiplied by 750. The proposed initiative must fall under EU competence and the organisers have 12 months to collect the signatures (in paper form or electronically). The regulation on Citizens' Initiative will be applicable in February 2012 giving member states and the Commission time to take the necessary measures.

Belgium sets new political crisis record, AFP (2011)

The article discusses the political deadlock after June 2010 elections in Belgium. The country has now been 289 days without a government because linguistical divides between French, Dutch and Flemish language areas.

Belgium: 450 days after election, still no govt in Belgium, The Associated Press (2011)

Since the election of June 13 2010, Belgium parliamentarians were unable to form a government. According to the article, the Dutch and French speaking political parties are still unable to reach an agreement.

Belgium: Belgium Tries to Jump-Start Coalition Talks, The Wall Street Journal (2011)

The article gives an overview of the negotiations undertaken by Elio di Rupo, the French speaking Socialist party leader, to end the federal government crisis, tackle socioeconomic problems and arrange territorial disputes around the Brussels area.

Belgian Talks Reach Breakthrough, The Wall Street Journal (2011)

The article reports that the Belgian parties have reached an agreement on the issue of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. This district of Brussels has been a source of contentious between the Flemish and Francophone. The main debates we related to the division of the territory. They agreed on redefining the borders on linguistic lines.