BRUSSELS - Belgium’s political parties finally agreed Monday on new reforms, setting aside key differences that have prevented them from forming a government almost nine months after general elections. ‘At last there is an agreement for our country,’ said the leader of the French-speaking Socialists, Elio Di Rupo, after a ‘wiseman’s group’ from the main parties hammered out an accord overnight on a first raft of reforms.| Yasss, unity for Belgium. For what it's worth. This government will fall before the Italian government falls again. |
The issue of ‘institutional reform’-essentially the devolution of powers to the regions-goes to the heart of the kingdom’s political woes, which came to a head following the failure to form a government after elections last June. Belgium’s francophones-living mainly in the poorer southern region of Wallonia and the officially bilingual Brussels capital region-fear that a big loss of federal power could lead to the break-up of the country.
The reform agreement would see the handover of relatively minor federal powers like control over rental legislation, child minding, and a say in where large commercial enterprises may build.