Editing Belgium (section)

===Political culture===
Belgium's political institutions are complex; [[Pillarisation|most political power rests on representation of the main cultural communities]].<ref name="d9qyv">{{cite web|title=Belgium, a federal state|publisher=Belgium.be|url=http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federale_staat/|access-date=26 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112080611/http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federale_staat/|archive-date=12 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since about 1970, the significant national [[Political parties in Belgium|Belgian political parties]] have split into distinct components that mainly represent the political and linguistic interests of these communities.<ref name="USStateDpt">{{cite web|title=Background Note: Belgium|publisher=U.S. Department of States|date=29 April 2010|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm|access-date=26 November 2010|archive-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121042120/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
The major parties in each community, though close to the political center, belong to three main groups: [[Christian democracy|Christian Democrats]], [[Liberalism in Belgium|Liberals]], and [[Social democracy|Social Democrats]].<ref name="fYr7M">{{cite web|title=Belgium – Political parties|work=European Election Database|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/belgium/parties.html|publisher=Norwegian Social Science Data Services|year=2010|access-date=10 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427100052/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/belgium/parties.html|archive-date=27 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
Further notable parties came into being well after the middle of last century, mainly to represent [[List of political parties in Belgium#Linguistic parties|linguistic]], nationalist, or environmental interests, and recently smaller ones of some specific liberal nature.<ref name="USStateDpt" />

[[File:Palais de la Nation (DSC01812).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Belgian Federal Parliament]] in [[Brussels]], one of [[List of governments in Belgium|six different governments]] of the country]]

A string of Christian Democrat coalition governments from 1958 [[Belgian federal election, 1999|was broken in 1999]] after the first [[dioxine affair|dioxin crisis]], a major [[Food contaminant|food contamination]] scandal.<ref name="bKdfB">{{cite web|title=Dioxin contamination scandal hits Belgium: Effects spread through European Union and beyond|work=World Socialist Web Site (WSWS)|publisher=International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)|author=Tyler, Richard <!--Do ''not'' link to fictional character or The Daily Telegraph's Enterprise Editor, this R.T.=WSWS correspondent-->|date=8 June 1999|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/06/belg-j08.html|access-date=16 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801062114/http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/06/belg-j08.html|archive-date=1 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hjCXN">ElAmin, Ahmed (31 January 2006) [http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=65481-belgium-netherlands-dioxin Belgium, Netherlands meat sectors face dioxin crisis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914150715/http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=65481-belgium-netherlands-dioxin|date=14 September 2007}}. foodproductiondaily.com</ref><ref name="uoINh">{{cite news|title=Food Law News—EU&nbsp;: Contaminants—Commission Press Release (IP/99/399) Preliminary results of EU-inspection to Belgium|author=European Commission|publisher=School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, UK|date=16 June 1999|url=http://www.foodlaw.rdg.ac.uk/news/eu-99-40.htm|access-date=29 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927155917/http://www.foodlaw.rdg.ac.uk/news/eu-99-40.htm|archive-date=27 September 2006|url-status=live|author-link=European Commission}}</ref> A "rainbow coalition" emerged from six parties: the Flemish and the French-speaking Liberals, Social Democrats and Greens.<ref name="Mbcyv">{{cite news|title=Belgium's "rainbow" coalition sworn in|work=BBC News|date=12 July 1999|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/392004.stm|access-date=20 May 2007}}</ref> Later, a "[[Purple (government)|purple coalition]]" of Liberals and Social Democrats formed after the Greens lost most of their seats in the [[Belgian federal election, 2003|2003 election]].<ref name="9lpYO">{{cite web|title=La Chambre des représentants—Composition|trans-title=Composition of the Chamber of Representatives|date=9 March 2006|publisher=The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium|url=http://www.lachambre.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/pri/fiche/10F.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107200900/http://www.lachambre.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/pri/fiche/10F.pdf|archive-date=7 November 2006|access-date=25 May 2007|language=fr|url-status=live}}<!--REF FAILS TO CONFIRM TEXT (counting seats does not exclude possibility of Ecolo/NVA/FN as 5th etc parties)--></ref>

The government led by Prime Minister [[Guy Verhofstadt]] from 1999 to 2007 achieved a balanced budget, some [[tax reform]]s, a labor-market reform, scheduled [[Nuclear energy policy#Europe|nuclear phase-out]] and instigated legislation allowing more stringent [[War Crimes Law (Belgium)|war crime]] and more lenient [[drug harmfulness|soft drug usage]] prosecution. Restrictions on [[euthanasia]] were reduced. In 2003, Belgium became one of the first countries in the world to legalise [[Same-sex marriage in Belgium|same-sex marriage]].<ref name="brusselstimes">{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Lauren |title=Belgium celebrates 20 years of same-sex marriage |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/361629/belgium-celebrates-20-years-of-same-sex-marriage |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=The Brussels Times}}</ref> The government promoted active [[diplomacy]] in Africa<ref name="WEf4J">{{cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0019846.html|access-date=27 May 2007|title=Rwanda|work=tiscali.reference|publisher=Tiscali UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924034710/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0019846.html|archive-date=24 September 2009|url-status=dead}} The article shows an example of Belgium's recent{{when|date=June 2020}} African policies.</ref> and [[Governmental positions on the Iraq War prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|opposed the invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="LZ5BE">{{cite news|title=Belgian demand halts NATO progress|agency=CNN|date=16 February 2003|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/16/sprj.irq.nato.belgium.ap/|access-date=16 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050116083744/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/16/sprj.irq.nato.belgium.ap/|archive-date=16 January 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the only country that does not have age restrictions on euthanasia.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37395286 |title=Belgium minor first to be granted euthanasia |access-date=6 January 2017|work=BBC News|date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106095903/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37395286|archive-date=6 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Verhofstadt's coalition fared badly in the [[Belgian federal election, 2007|June 2007 elections]]. For more than a year, the country experienced a [[2007 Belgian government formation|political crisis]].<ref name="N2qAB">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1002141.stm|title=Time-line Belgium|work=BBC News|date=5 January 2009|access-date=16 July 2009|quote=2007 September – Belgium without a government for 100 days.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929235647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1002141.stm|archive-date=29 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> This crisis was such that many observers speculated on a possible [[partition of Belgium]].<ref name="SanFranChro">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/12/MNB6SEM9K.DTL|title=Divisions could lead to a partition in Belgium|last=Bryant|first=Elizabeth|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=28 May 2008|date=12 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429194505/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F10%2F12%2FMNB6SEM9K.DTL|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBCJuly2008">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7507506.stm|title=Analysis: Where now for Belgium?|last=Hughes|first=Dominic|work=BBC News|date=15 July 2008|access-date=16 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719063736/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7507506.stm|archive-date=19 July 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph2010">{{cite news|title=Fears over 'break up' of Belgium|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/7982892/Fears-over-break-up-of-Belgium.html|last=Banks|first=Martin|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|date=6 September 2010|access-date=6 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909132726/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/7982892/Fears-over-break-up-of-Belgium.html|archive-date=9 September 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> From {{Nowrap|21 December}} 2007 until {{Nowrap|20 March}} 2008 the temporary [[Verhofstadt&nbsp;III Government]] was in office. This was a coalition of the [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams|Flemish]] and [[Humanist Democratic Centre|Francophone Christian Democrats]], the [[Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten|Flemish]] and [[Mouvement Réformateur|Francophone Liberals]] together with the [[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|Francophone Social Democrats]].<ref name="news">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7506640.stm|title=Belgian PM offers his resignation|work=BBC News|date=15 July 2008|access-date=29 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420193751/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7506640.stm|archive-date=20 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

On that day, a [[Leterme I Government|new government]], led by Flemish Christian Democrat [[Yves Leterme]], the actual winner of the federal elections of {{Nowrap|June 2007}}, was sworn in by the King. On {{Nowrap|15 July}} 2008 Leterme offered the resignation of the cabinet to the King, as no progress in [[state reform in Belgium|constitutional reforms]] had been made.<ref name="news" />
In December 2008, Leterme once more offered his resignation after a [[2008–2009 Belgian financial crisis|crisis]] surrounding the sale of [[Fortis (finance)|Fortis]] to [[BNP Paribas]].<ref name="r7UJ3">[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/19/belgium.government.resignation/index.html CNN.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201143115/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/19/belgium.government.resignation/index.html|date=1 February 2009}}, "Belgium Prime Minister offers resignation over banking deal"</ref> At this juncture, his resignation was accepted and [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams|Christian Democratic and Flemish]] [[Herman Van Rompuy]] was sworn in as Prime Minister on {{Nowrap|30 December}} 2008.<ref name="4GrHs">[https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSLS35202520081228 Belgian king asks Van Rompuy to form government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204055721/http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSLS35202520081228|date=4 February 2009}} Reuters.</ref>

After Herman Van Rompuy was designated the first permanent [[President of the European Council]] on {{Nowrap|19 November}} 2009, he offered the resignation of his government to King Albert&nbsp;II on {{Nowrap|25 November}} 2009. A few hours later, the [[Leterme II Government|new government]] under Prime Minister [[Yves Leterme]] was sworn in. On {{Nowrap|22 April}} 2010, Leterme again offered the resignation of his cabinet to the King<ref name="a18xf">{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-belgium-leterme-resigns-vld-liberals-democrats-quit-ruling-coalition|title=Prime Minister Leterme resigns after liberals quit government|date=22 April 2010|publisher=France 24|access-date=22 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426001006/http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-belgium-leterme-resigns-vld-liberals-democrats-quit-ruling-coalition|archive-date=26 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> after one of the coalition partners, the [[OpenVLD]], withdrew from the government, and on {{Nowrap|26 April}} 2010 King Albert officially accepted the resignation.<ref name="pFUq8">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100426-leterme-albert-accepts-resignation-prime-minister-government-collapse-belgium|title=King Albert&nbsp;II accepts resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme|publisher=France 24|access-date=29 April 2010|date=26 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429002512/http://www.france24.com/en/20100426-leterme-albert-accepts-resignation-prime-minister-government-collapse-belgium|archive-date=29 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Parliamentary elections in Belgium on {{Nowrap|13 June}} 2010 saw the Flemish nationalist [[New Flemish Alliance|N-VA]] become the largest party in Flanders, and the Socialist Party PS the largest party in Wallonia.<ref name="XVrGP">{{cite web|url=http://electionresources.org/be/chamber.php?election=2010|title=Federal Elections in Belgium – Chamber of Representatives Results|access-date=14 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922111232/http://electionresources.org/be/chamber.php?election=2010|archive-date=22 September 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Until December 2011, Belgium was governed by Leterme's [[caretaker government]] awaiting the end of the deadlocked negotiations for [[2010–2011 Belgian government formation|formation of a new government]]. By 30 March 2011, this set a new world record for the elapsed time without an official government, previously held by war-torn [[Iraq]].<ref name="BBC News 6 May 2015">{{cite web|title=Reality Check: How long can nations go without governments?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32612828|last=Kovacevic|first=Tamara|date=6 May 2015|website=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013111910/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32612828|archive-date=13 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally, in December 2011 the [[Di Rupo Government]] led by Walloon socialist Prime Minister [[Elio Di Rupo]] was sworn in.<ref name="PXMRM">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20111205-political-crisis-nears-end-new-premier-cabinet-named-di-rupo-king-albert-belgium|title=Political crisis nears an end as new PM, cabinet named|date=5 December 2011|website=France 24|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407040312/https://www.france24.com/en/20111205-political-crisis-nears-end-new-premier-cabinet-named-di-rupo-king-albert-belgium|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Belgian federal election, 2014|2014 federal election]] (coinciding with the [[Belgian regional elections, 2014|regional elections]]) resulted in a further electoral gain for the Flemish nationalist N-VA. However, the incumbent coalition (composed of Flemish and French-speaking Social Democrats, Liberals, and Christian Democrats) maintains a solid majority in Parliament and all electoral constituencies. On 22 July 2014, King Philippe nominated [[Charles Michel]] (MR) and [[Kris Peeters]] (CD&V) to [[2014 Belgian government formation|lead the formation of a new federal cabinet]] composed of the Flemish parties N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld and the French-speaking MR, which resulted in the [[Michel I Government|Michel Government]]. It was the first time N-VA was part of the federal cabinet, while the French-speaking side was represented only by the MR, which achieved a minority of the public votes in Wallonia.<ref name="wMR0S">{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belgium-agrees-to-form-coalition-government/a-17981531|title=Belgium agrees to form coalition government &#124; DW &#124; 07.10.2014|website=dw.com|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811110024/https://www.dw.com/en/belgium-agrees-to-form-coalition-government/a-17981531|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May [[2019 Belgian federal election|2019 federal elections]] in the Flemish-speaking northern region of Flanders, the far-right [[Vlaams Belang]] party made major gains. In the French-speaking southern area of Wallonia, the Socialists were strong. The moderate Flemish nationalist party, the N-VA, remained the largest party in parliament.<ref name="ftZtr">{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/no-coalition-in-sight-after-fractured-belgium-election/a-48894848|title=No coalition in sight after fractured Belgium election &#124; DW &#124; 27.05.2019|website=dw.com|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811110245/https://www.dw.com/en/no-coalition-in-sight-after-fractured-belgium-election/a-48894848|url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2019, Prime Minister [[Charles Michel]] was selected to hold the post of President of the [[European Council]].<ref name="j3g6O">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/who-is-charles-michel-the-next-president-of-the-european-council|title=Who is Charles Michel, the next President of the European Council?|first1=Timothée|last1=Houzel|date=1 April 2021|website=The New Federalist|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811110207/https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/who-is-charles-michel-the-next-president-of-the-european-council|url-status=live}}</ref> His successor [[Sophie Wilmès]] was Belgium's first female prime minister. She led the caretaker government since October 2019.<ref name="2hC0Z">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/28/belgium-first-female-pm-sophie-wilmes|title=Belgium gets first female PM as Sophie Wilmès takes office|date=28 October 2019|website=The Guardian|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518143714/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/28/belgium-first-female-pm-sophie-wilmes|url-status=live}}</ref> The Flemish Liberal party politician  [[Alexander De Croo]] became new prime minister in October 2020. The parties had agreed on the federal government 16 months after the elections.<ref name="yD8q7">{{cite web|url=https://www.neweurope.eu/article/belgium-agrees-on-federal-government-de-croo-to-become-pm/|title=Belgium agrees on federal government, De Croo to become PM|first=Zoi|last=Didili|date=1 October 2020|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111053156/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/belgium-agrees-on-federal-government-de-croo-to-become-pm/|url-status=dead}}</ref>