tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59320982012-01-23T13:43:38.742+01:00Vermetel"Vermetel" - the Dutch word for audacious - wants to give an opinion about international and Benelux politics, society and science from a Low Countries point of view.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-59984237359965839082009-04-09T18:08:00.003+02:002009-04-09T18:20:03.488+02:00Censorship in BelgiumIn Belgium, everything that's not political correct, or even not in the governing classes' point of view, has a very hard time getting published, either in the press or through a publishing company. Even an open letter of a whole bunch of Flemish opinion makers (like philosophers, journalists etc) ranging from left to right, from conservative to liberal, was censored by the Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-87442408345093481742007-09-20T12:36:00.000+02:002007-09-20T12:39:21.897+02:00DFKB - 3: Current state of affairs (2)Ingrid Robeyns wrote a very good overview on the Belgian cocktail on Crooked Timber. The discussion in the comments has also given some interesting suggestions.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-48747732818630291602007-09-02T17:52:00.002+02:002007-09-03T11:45:01.030+02:00DFKB – 2: Current state of affairs1. The countryThe federal Kingdom of Belgium currently has a population of about 10.6 million. It is divided in four languages areas: the Dutch-speaking Flanders (6.1 million inhabitants), the French-speaking area (3.4 million people), the small German-speaking area consisting of 9 municipalities in Eastern Belgium (73 000 inhabitants), and finally the bilingual Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-44467369471751014302007-08-30T18:13:00.000+02:002007-08-30T18:36:14.192+02:00Decline and Fall of the Kingdom of Belgium (DFKB - part 1)I haven't written here for a very long time. The lack of time I referred to in the previous post, has certainly been the main reason. One of the other reasons was that I was kind of fed up with politics. It is not that I have not been following what is happening in the world, but it is kind of demotivating of describing what happens over Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1136641256381992012006-01-07T14:02:00.000+01:002006-01-07T14:40:56.436+01:002006Dear reader,I want to wish you a healthy 2006 with lots of success, fun, happiness, and love. I have been writing little the last few months because of a lack of time, and I fear this will not change in the coming months.Nevertheless, I (and almost everyone I know) was shocked to hear about the Nice-Lyons train rampage on New Year's Day, and even more about the non-reaction of the French Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1133260956876904672005-11-29T11:24:00.000+01:002005-11-29T11:44:34.776+01:00Trade-union selfishness (bis)I was planning to elaborate the last item on trade-union selfishness, but I haven't got much time the last month and a lot of things have happened.The so-called generations' pact was amended by the government after a general strike of the socialist trade union. During this strike, people that wanted to work (and were probably no members of that trade union) were Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1128721382336785012005-10-07T23:27:00.000+02:002005-10-07T23:43:02.343+02:00Trade-union selfishnessCurrently, the Belgian government is trying to do something about the proportional increase of the ageing population and its consequences for social security. Older people are entitled to pensions and furthermore, they need more medical attention. So, in order to be able to pay for all of this, measures have to be taken. Currently, one can officially retire at 65 or after Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1128716388360553152005-10-07T21:39:00.000+02:002005-10-07T23:26:53.866+02:00The emperor was crowned (again)A few weeks ago, another scandal involving PS politicians came to surface. At first, it looked small. Three of directors of the city housing department la Carolorégienne in Charleroi, who also 'happened' to be aldermen of the city, were reported to have filed and been granted expense reports of 10,000s of euros on dinners and wine. After strong pressure of the partyPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1128450655490578512005-10-04T20:08:00.000+02:002005-10-07T21:15:42.846+02:00What if...Hear! Hear! Today, the Kingdom of Belgium celebrates its 175th birthday. Or not? Apart from a small item on the RTBF teletext service, there was nothing that suggested that this day is special. On October 4, 1830 the Provisional Government in Brussels declared the independence of Belgium. (Less known is that on the same day, Crown Prince William of Orange also declared Belgian Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1127817351579878422005-09-27T12:34:00.000+02:002005-09-27T12:37:36.600+02:00Political test (US)According to this test, I would be a Democrat in the US...You are a Social Moderate (41% permissive)and an... Economic Liberal (21% permissive)You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on Ok CupidPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1126817525620753672005-09-15T22:50:00.000+02:002005-09-15T22:52:05.626+02:00Discouraging entrepreneurshipIndependent workers and employees have a different statute in Belgium. Their social security systems are totally separate. Independents almost have no social protection, because, unlike the employee's social security system, there is not a deficit in the independent one. Nevertheless, a full-time independent has to pay minally 478 euros per quarter. Although this is Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1117658691160459402005-06-01T22:29:00.000+02:002005-06-01T22:46:52.076+02:00De grondwet is dood, leve de...The European Constitution is dead. The Netherlands turned it down with an overwhelming majority of 62%, with a turnout of 63%. Both number are much higher than expected. The people in the original nucleus of the European Communities are fed up with decisions taken over their heads.The tone of the Dutch politicians in the aftermath was certainly different from FrancePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1117484824588225702005-05-30T22:25:00.000+02:002005-05-30T22:27:11.503+02:00CommentsThe comments section, powered by Enetation seems to be off-line. I'll look into that the coming days and if it's not solved, I'll activate Blogger's own comments. Up to then, you can send your comments to Peter.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1117484678165890192005-05-30T22:24:00.000+02:002005-05-30T22:24:38.170+02:00Vive l'une et indivisible république!France has spoken, and it was a loud "NON". 54.87% of the French voted against the draft of the European Constitution. And they were right to do so. I do agree the European Union has many advantages. I do like free traffic of goods and people, the euro (the way it was introduced is something different), the fact there has been no war in Western Europe for 60 Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1117360468470192372005-05-29T11:53:00.000+02:002005-05-29T21:06:52.213+02:00Beyond any shame (The BHV saga, part 2)... continued from previous post.Just before the regional elections of 2004, the mayors of 28 Flemish municipalities in Halle-Vilvoorde (all of them, except the 7 municipalities à facilités) put the issue high on the political agenda. They claimed they could not organize unconstitutional elections. Finally they reached an agreement with all the Flemish Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1116419571088472212005-05-17T14:31:00.000+02:002005-05-18T15:06:05.343+02:00Beyond any shame (The BHV saga, part 1)Flemish politicians showed their true faces these last weeks, as another one of their major election promises went down and everybody was holding on to their positions, car drivers, and expense notes. Especially federal PM Guy Verhofstadt and his VLD seem to screw up time after time and they don't want to take their responsability. Four majors promises the Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1112819814182143022005-04-06T22:36:00.000+02:002005-04-15T00:16:58.900+02:00Silly name changes in South AfricaPretoria is to become Tshwane. Other new names include Mangaung (Bloemfontein), Pietersburg (Mokopane), Mbombela (Nelspruit), Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), Thaba Chweu (Lydenburg), Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Mogalakwena (Potgietersrus), Modimolle (Nylstroom), eDumbe (Paulpietersburg), Emfuleni (Vereeniging), Tswelopele (Hoopstad), Kopanong (Trompsburg), Maluti a Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1112819214489837772005-04-06T22:26:00.000+02:002005-04-06T23:00:41.996+02:00RIP John Paul IIThe media event of the last week were the last days and the death of pope John Paul II. You might agree or disagree with his opinions, but the man leaves a definite mark on the world. He can be seen as one of the greater statesmen of the twentieth century. His struggle against communism, but also against unrestrained capitalism, social injustice, and war and his plea for peace, Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1112817836664596762005-04-06T22:03:00.000+02:002005-04-06T22:06:56.570+02:00Dutch government survives crisisThe Dutch government of Jan-Peter Balkenende survived the resignation of deputy prime minister Thom de Graaf (D'66). De Graaf was Minister of Administrative Reforms and Kingdom Relations (dealing with the overseas autonomous countries Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles). He wanted to implement direct elections of the mayor (who is now appointed by the government) Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1112816902718533362005-04-06T21:46:00.000+02:002005-04-06T22:08:15.386+02:00Wallonia doesn't want to help the unemployed...... or another example of Belgian and Walloon surrealism. The Walloon unemployment office stops offering jobs to the unemployed. The Belgian federal legislation says long-term unemployed can only refuse a job offer a few times, else the federal employment service can suspend the unemployment benefit. The regional offices have to transmit this Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1107719759438035672005-02-06T20:55:00.000+01:002005-02-06T20:59:33.610+01:00The past weeks in Belgium
The liberal VLD starts to resemble more and more a stalinist party. Dissenting opinions are not tolerated anymore. Senator Coveliers is likely to be thrown out of the party on Tuesday. Right-wing opinions and criticizing the government cannot be done in public anymore. Traditional liberal voters can choose between putting up with it or voting Vlaams Belang.
The Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1105045942685121762005-01-06T21:56:00.000+01:002005-01-06T22:49:22.803+01:00Negationist secretary
Brussels Secretary of Refuse Collection and Monuments, Emir Kir (PS), is a negationist. He doesn't say anything about the Holocaust, but as a Belgian of Turkish origin, he denies the Armenian genocide of 1915-23. In May 2004, he even took part in a Turkish protest march against the Armenian genocide monument in Ixelles. The march was also joined by some Brussels municipal Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1105042997258768732005-01-06T21:21:00.000+01:002005-01-06T21:23:17.256+01:00Best wishes
Dear readers,
I want to wish you all a happy 2005 without too much stress!
I haven't been blogging a lot the last few weeks and I hope to change that in the near future. A lot of ideas, but alas... too little time to write them out.
PeterPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1102261379878548722004-12-05T16:42:00.000+01:002005-01-06T21:21:41.696+01:00This week in Belgium
First, there were two statements of Crown Prince Philippe during a federally coordinated trade mission to China. In an interview with the Flemish rag Story he denounced separatist parties and the Vlaams Belang in particular. Furthermore, the Duke of Brabant wants foreign trade (which is a competence of the regions) transferred back to the federal level. The reactions in Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1101836782580695442004-11-30T18:45:00.000+01:002004-11-30T18:46:22.583+01:00Flemish parliament gagged
Last week, the leaders of the majority fractions in the Flemish parliament announced an agreement no member of the majority parties are allowed to interpellate and question Flemish government members without the consent of ALL fraction leaders. Alternate majorities are also forbidden. This muzzles the Flemish parliament effectively and kills parliamentary democracy (or Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1101560092207220962004-11-27T13:46:00.000+01:002004-11-27T13:54:52.206+01:00Orange revolution in Kiev
I haven't commented yet on what's happening in the Ukraine. I think it's not a situation that can be easily solved. At first sight, I would like to sympathize with people in the streets of Kiev and Lviv. But as I read the comment section of the Guardian, written by John Laughland, a lot of things become clear. I did know the US were poking around in Ukraine, but I did Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1101064909186943132004-11-21T19:52:00.000+01:002004-11-21T20:21:49.186+01:00Surrealism, part two
While the Netherlands keep discussing how far you can go in freedom of speech and whether blasphemy should be punishable by law, Belgian politicians are also threatened by Islamists. Senator Mimount Bousakla (SP.a) got phone calls of guy who was saying he was going to kill her ritually. The culprit turned out to be a Fleming converted to Islam. Bousakla, who is of Moroccan Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1100450388249181662004-11-14T17:36:00.000+01:002004-11-14T17:40:21.846+01:00Surrealism in the Low Countries
In the Netherlands, tensions are rising. Islamists and right-wing extremists seem to have lost their senses and set fire to churches, mosques and islamic schools. At least 25 attempts of arson have been reported. It ressembles a two-side mini-intifada. Dutch Justice and Interior Ministers are calling it a war. And it is. We can go on about what went wrong the lastPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1099432902539577952004-11-02T22:57:00.000+01:002004-11-02T23:01:42.540+01:00Bush or Kerry?
Tomorrow, we'll know. At least, if there's no months-long judicial tug-of-war between the lawyers of Democrats and Republicans.
If I were an American, I would vote for Kerry. But I think it's better Bush is elected. Why? I don't think Kerry's policies will differ much from Bush's. I don't think the average American's life will be better under Kerry. Bush is just more honest Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1099432387762932892004-11-02T22:23:00.000+01:002004-11-02T23:16:19.750+01:00Blast to freedom of speech
This morning Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh has been stabbed and shot dead in Amsterdam by a 26-year-old Moroccan extremist. Van Gogh (together with the liberal MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali, of Somali origin) made a controversial film about the oppression and violence of women in Islamic culture. Van Gogh (47) had received death threats after his film Submission was shown on Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1098651090007328472004-10-24T22:39:00.000+02:002004-10-24T22:51:30.006+02:00Interesting books
I've just finished reading two books I really liked.
The first one is The Elegant Universe by Briane Greene. Greene gives an excellent, non-mathematical introduction to superstring and brane theories. Having studied physics myself, but not into the mathematics of particle physics, I still feel the grasp of what you can do with this theory. But even for the less scientifically Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1098650355212209162004-10-24T22:34:00.000+02:002004-10-24T22:39:15.213+02:00The Belgian State of the Union
Verhofstadt's federal State of the Union on October 12th was marked, not by its content, but by its absence of content. It was already postponed for two weeks, since there was no agreement on any of the issues. When it finally was ready, the only thing in there was the budget. The budget seems to be even for the sixth year in row. But a country with a public debt Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1097700622767673642004-10-12T22:47:00.000+02:002004-10-13T22:50:22.766+02:00One year of blogging
Today, Vermetel celebrates its first dies natalis. I haven't been blogging as much as I wanted (and it also influences my production of texts for other media), and Jan hasn't found time at all to start blogging. However, I hope you did enjoy the products of my pen.
PS: I'll bring something on Verhofstadt's state of the union in a few days, but I really don't have time now...Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1096489619586911932004-09-29T22:24:00.000+02:002004-09-29T22:28:50.426+02:00Mega-trial on micro-territory
As the BBC reports, on the tiny island of Pitcairn, the last British crown colony in the Pacific with only 47 inhabitants, half of the adult male population is being tried for sexual abuse of minors by New Zealand judges under English common law. The Pitcairn islands are the world's smallest separately administrated territory and still part of the British realm. ThePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1096402998811812022004-09-28T22:10:00.000+02:002004-09-28T22:24:48.976+02:00Flemish capital
Since 1984, the seat of the Flemish government and parliament is Brussels, which is, according to the Belgian federal state structure, no part of the Flemish region. The Flemish Community however has authority over the Dutch-language community institutions in Brussels.
Today, the far-right (but in Francophone environments socially acceptable) FDF president Olivier Maingain Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1096401358498030042004-09-28T21:45:00.000+02:002004-09-28T21:55:58.496+02:00The Netherlands want more Benelux
In a speech at the Belgo-Dutch Conference in The Hague, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot (CDA) launched the idea of a common soccer competition. There would be one premier league for both countries. According to Bot, the most important goal is not improving quality and competition, but more mutual understanding between the Belgians and the Dutch. He also Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1095286304409260282004-09-15T23:43:00.000+02:002004-09-16T00:11:44.410+02:00Traffic jams
Yesterday, it took me about an hour to cross the 20 kilometres that separate Louvain from Diegem (a Brussels suburb, where the company I am working for is located). This would probably be already exceptional in the morning rush hour (you can usually make it in less then 40 minutes, while the normal driving time would be 15 minutes), but I only left Louvain at 11 am. What happened? APeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1095284586439107692004-09-15T23:15:00.000+02:002004-09-15T23:43:06.440+02:00The DHL saga
Last year, in the middle of the discussion of night flights over the Brussels Northern suburbs, the German carrier DHL announced the number of allowed night flights to its European hub in Brussels should be augmented from 16,000 now to 34,000 in ten years in order to handle all expected shipments. If not, DHL is likely to move its European headquarters to Leipzig.
On the other handPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094994404697327792004-09-12T15:06:00.000+02:002004-09-12T15:16:40.466+02:00The Bonaire referendum
On Friday, during the aftermath of hurricane Ivan, Bonaire went to the polls. The island council organized a referendum about the future status of the Papiamento-speaking island with 13,300 inhabitants. Bonaire is still part of the federal Netherlands Antilles, together with Curaçao, the Dutch part of Saint Martin (Sint-Maarten), Sint-Eustatius and Saba. Aruba left the Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094992687379396192004-09-12T14:36:00.000+02:002004-09-12T14:38:07.380+02:00Patriarch dies in helicopter crash
Yesterday, we could read in the international press that Peter VII, Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and pope of all Africa, died in an helicopter crash on his way to visit the Holy Mountain Athos. The Orthodox Church of Alexandria is one of the sixteen autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches and is founded by the Apostle Mark the Evangelist. The Coptic Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094983568737762432004-09-12T13:05:00.000+02:002004-09-12T12:09:01.320+02:00University entrance limitations
Yesterday, it was announced there are too many vets in Flanders. Therefore, the Order of Veterinary Surgeons asked for entrance exams at the university and fixed fees.
About eight years ago, the same discussion was brought up (on a federal level) for medical doctors and dentists. The number of new registered doctors and dentists was limited and in order to Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094414360389479242004-09-05T21:54:00.000+02:002004-09-05T21:59:20.390+02:00Benelux turns 60
Today the Benelux turns 60. Created in the happy liberation days of 1944, the customs union of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg was the first true supranational co-operation that didn't involve a microstate and its big neighbour. Later on, because of the European integration, it became less important. But let's hope the three countries start intensifying their relations Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094381295088687492004-09-05T13:43:00.000+02:002004-09-05T16:32:13.500+02:00The Beslan tragedy
Last week, the whole world watched in horror how Chechen rebels hijacked a school in North Ossetia. What happened there, is beyond words. More than 400 people killed, hundreds of others badly hurt, a small mountaneous republic traumatized for life.
Chechen suicide killers made a lot of assaults on Russian targets in the last month. Beslan however is mainly populated by Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094384742796390112004-09-05T13:25:00.000+02:002004-09-05T13:45:42.796+02:00Troubles in the VVD
Dutch Lower Chamber member Geert Wilders is expelled from his party, the liberal VVD. The government coalition of CDA, VVD and D'66 falls back on 77 of the 150 seats with this action. Wilders announced he would vote against Turkey's EU membership and since the official position of the Dutch government is in favour of it, party discipline was asked. Wilders refused.
I am not Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1094383150257296722004-09-05T13:16:00.000+02:002004-09-05T13:22:28.756+02:00Nuclear power
A few days ago, Belgian federal Minister of Economy Marc Verwilghen (VLD) reopened the debate about closing all Belgian nuclear power plants between 2015 and 2025. The previous federal government coalitions of liberals, socialists and ecologists decided to do so. But about 60% of Belgian electricity is provided by these power plants and there is no alternative.
Nuclear energy hasPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1093780333068943592004-08-29T12:44:00.000+02:002004-08-29T14:46:20.373+02:00De facto independent countries (II): Abkhazia
South Ossetia is not Saakashvili's only pain in the arse. After reincorporating Ajaria in May 2004, he was confident to do the same thing with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. However, unlike Ajaria, these regions are not inhabited by ethnic Georgians. We return to the Wikipedia, which really gives good and mostly very objective information.
Abkhazia Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1093379385629030042004-08-24T22:09:00.000+02:002004-08-24T22:33:31.273+02:00De facto independent countries (I): South Ossetia
The last few days, the little area of South Ossetia seems to be in the news daily. The conflict might cause an open war between Russia and Georgia. So, what is this about? In the Wikipedia, you can read:
South Ossetia covers an area of about 3,900 km² on the southern side of the Caucasus and is legally part of the Republic of Georgia. It has an Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1093378033034844382004-08-24T22:01:00.000+02:002004-08-24T22:09:04.726+02:00US madness
After Nipplegate, the US are discussing about John Kerry's Vietnam past. You would think that the media in the world's only superpower would focus on stuff that really matters when a new Commander-in-Chief has to be chosen. You would think the bad economy, education, the growing gap between the poor and the rich and even the image of the US outside the borders were the issues Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1092055477867082762004-08-09T14:44:00.000+02:002004-08-12T14:29:48.020+02:00NNP merges with ANC
The New National Party/Nuwe Nasionale Party (NNP) is going to merge with the African National Congress (ANC) in September 2005. The NNP is the successor of the old National Party/Nasionale Party (NP) that ruled South Africa in 1928-1939 and 1948-1994 and was seen as the political symbol of apartheid. Since Frederik Willem de Klerk unbanned the ANC in 1991 and after the Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1091385486883448672004-08-01T20:28:00.000+02:002004-08-01T20:38:06.883+02:00Macedonia
On August 13, 2001 the Macedonian government and the Albanian political parties signed the agreements of Ohrid, that made an end to the simmering civil war that was starting in the country. Macedonia changed its constitution into a Finnish-type community system, with Albanian as second official language. Albanians could run their own municipalities, public functions would be divided Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1091011071815074122004-07-28T12:33:00.000+02:002004-07-28T12:39:26.596+02:00Articles on geopolitics
Here, you can find two interesting articles about American imperialism and Eurasian geopolitics:
The US & Eurasia: End Game for the Industrial Era? (by Richard Heinberg)
Bush as the lesser imperialist evil (by Stephen J. Sniegoski)
Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1090529429563624672004-07-22T22:49:00.000+02:002004-07-22T22:50:29.563+02:00A never seen scramble for cabinet positions
The composition of the new regional governments after Belgium's regional elections on June 13, has caused an unprecedented scramble for cabinet and other honorific positions.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND PARTIES
Guy Verhofstadt's federal government was recomposed (8 new cabinet members out of 21, while 2 others shift positions) after some members left Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1090521492195357962004-07-22T20:34:00.000+02:002004-07-22T21:37:09.660+02:00Belgium's new governments
FLEMISH GOVERNMENT (CD&V/N-VA/SP.a/Spirit/VLD)
• Yves Leterme (CD&V): PM, Agriculture and State Reform
• Frank Vandenbroucke (SP.a): Deputy PM, Education and Work
• Fientje Moerman (VLD): Deputy PM, Economy and Trade
• Inge Vervotte (CD&V): Health, Family and Social Affairs
• Kris Peeters (CD&V): Environment, Energy, Harbours and Public Works
• Geert Bourgeois (Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1088869622849186502004-07-03T17:46:00.000+02:002004-07-03T17:48:48.203+02:00Canadian elections
Actually, I had hoped that Scott would comment the Canadian election results on Pedantry or A Fistful of Euros. The Liberals lost their absolute majority in the elections, but the oppositional Conservative Party didn't come close. The independentist Bloc Québecois got 54 of the 75 Quebec seats in the federal parliament and holds the balance for creating a new government, whichPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1088869604828050462004-07-03T17:45:00.000+02:002004-07-03T17:50:18.743+02:00Coalition talks (2)
The German-speaking community has a new government. Karl-Heinz Lambertz (SP) keeps his post as PM, while Oliver Paasch (PJU-PDB), Bernt Gentges (PFF-RB) and the 24-year-old Isabelle Weykmans (PFF-RB) are the new ministers. Louis Siquet (SP) is the new Speaker of the Parliament and Berni Collas (PFF-RB) remains the federal Senator representing the German-speaking Community. I Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087898227770362282004-06-22T11:29:00.000+02:002004-07-03T17:27:20.300+02:00Coalition talks
Elio Di Rupo is still talking to cdH, Ecolo and MR to form new governments in the Walloon and Brussels regions and the French-speaking community. He announced he will disclose his coalition partners next Monday.
In the German-speaking community, the biggest party, the Christian Democrat CSP seems to be shut out again, the BRF and Grenz Echo report. The former "purple" coalition Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087896330053967682004-06-22T11:11:00.000+02:002004-06-22T11:29:31.933+02:00Constitutionem sed non papam habemus
Europe has a constitution, but no president of the European Commission yet. That was the outcome of the Brussels summit last week. Belgian PM Verhofstadt was vetoed by Blair, supported by Berlusconi, the Austrian chancellor Schlüssel (the Austrians didn't forget the fuss the Belgians created about the ÖVP-FPÖ government a few years ago), the Poles (because ofPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087421807405077982004-06-16T23:03:00.000+02:002004-06-16T23:37:05.853+02:00Elections results: the French-speaking Community
The parliament of the French-speaking Community of Belgium is composed of the 75 members of the Walloon parliament, together with 19 MPs elected by the French-speaking members of the Brussels parliament.
This gives in seats:
PS 41 (+12) (34W + 7B)
MR 26 (-4) (20W + 6B)
CDH 17 (+1) (14W + 3B)
Ecolo 5 (-13) (3W + 2B)
FN 5 (+4) (4W+ 1B)
Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087418867365489122004-06-16T22:39:00.000+02:002004-06-16T23:40:48.086+02:00Les jeux sont faits, ready to cash
The negotiations to form regional governments in Belgium have started. The PS will head the Brussels, Walloon and French Community governments and is talking to MR, CDH, and Ecolo, since Elio Di Rupo is not sure yet whether we wants to continue all his coalitions with Louis Michel's MR. In the German-speaking community, the CSP is going to talk to the liberal Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087418277739648782004-06-16T22:20:00.000+02:002004-06-16T22:39:13.903+02:00Elections in Luxembourg
Luxembourg did not only participate in the European elections, but also elected a new parliament. Here are the results (total = 60 seats):
Chrëschtlich Sozial Vollekspartei (CSV, Christian Democrat) 36.1%
Lëtzebuergesch Sozialistesch Arbechterpartei (LSAP, socialist) 23.4%
Demokratesch Partei (DP,liberal) 16.1%
Déi Gréng (G, ecologist) 11.6%
Aktiounskomitee fir Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087163693589514532004-06-13T23:15:00.000+02:002004-06-15T08:40:19.906+02:00Rien ne va plus
The Flemish voters have rolled the dice. The Vlaams Blok is the big winner of the regional elections, its 13th consecutive victory. Since CD&V and N-VA will most likely form separate fractions, Vlaams Blok is going to be the biggest party in the Flemish parliament with 32 of 120 seats. The Christian Democrats win their first election since 1985, but their cartel with the Flemish Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087161190124126002004-06-13T22:58:00.000+02:002004-06-15T08:40:44.073+02:00European elections in Belgium
The results with about 90% of the votes:
Dutch elective college
VLD-Vivant 21.9% (21.9%) 3 seats
SP.a-Spirit 17.8% (14.2%) 3 seats
CD&V-N-VA 28.1% (21.6%) 4 seats
Vlaams Blok 23.2% (15.1%) 3 seats
Groen! 8.0% (12.0%) 1 seat
VU-ID N/A (12.2%)
French elective college
PS 35.8% (25.8%) 4 seats
MR 27.6% (27.0%) 3 seats
CDH 15.1% (13.3%) 1 seat
Ecolo 10.3% (22.7%) 1 Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087160168290950932004-06-13T22:29:00.000+02:002004-06-13T22:56:08.290+02:00Regional elections in Wallonia: Preliminary results
I'll give the results after about 94% of the votes are count:
Compared with the 2003 federal elections:
PS: 37.0% (34.9%)
MR: 24.2% (30.6%)
CDH: 17.6% (14.7%)
Ecolo: 8.5% (8.2%)
FN: 8.1% (5.3%)
Compared with the 1999 regional elections, in seats (total = 75 seats):
PS: 34 (+9)
MR: 20 (-1)
CDH: 14 (=)
Ecolo: 3 (-11)
FN: 4 (+3)
The big Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087158359047561392004-06-13T22:16:00.000+02:002004-06-15T08:42:14.826+02:00Regional elections: results in Brussels
I'll give the results (total = 89 seats) compared to the regional elections of 1999 (total = 75 seats):
Flemish parties:
CD&V-N-VA 3 (=)
VLD-Vivant 4 (+2) (in 1999 VLD-VU)
SP.A-Spirit 3 (+1) (in 1999 SP-Agalev)
Groen! 2 (+2) (in 1999 as Agalev part op SP-Agalev)
Vlaams Blok 6 (+2)
Francophone parties:
PS 26 (+13)
MR 25 (-2)
CDH 10 (+4)
Ecolo 7 (-7)
FN Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087157485114775902004-06-13T22:03:00.000+02:002004-06-13T22:11:25.113+02:00Regional elections: results in Belgium's German-speaking community
I'll give the results compared to the regional elections of 1999 (total = 25 seats):
CSP, Christian Democrat, 8 (-1)
PFF, liberal, 5 (-1)
SP, socialist, 5 (+1)
PJU-PDB, regionalist, 3 (=)
Ecolo, ecologist, 2 (-1)
Vivant, libertarian, 2 (+2)
This means that the "purple" goverment coalition of PFF-SP-Ecolo, dictated by Elio Di Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087156908999947282004-06-13T21:50:00.000+02:002004-06-15T08:41:12.000+02:00Regional elections in Flanders: Preliminary results
For the moment, I'll give the results after about 96% of the votes are count:
Compared with the 2003 federal elections:
CD&V-N-VA: 26.2% (25.8%)
VLD-Vivant: 19.8% (25.4%)
SP.a-Spirit: 19.7% (23.5%)
Groen!: 7.6% (3.9%)
Vlaams Blok: 24.1% (17.9%)
UF: 1.0% (0.9%)
others: 1.6% (2.6%)
Compared with the 1999 regional elections, in seats (total = Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1087116346049811172004-06-13T10:33:00.000+02:002004-06-15T08:41:52.170+02:00Regional elections in Flanders: prognosis
Let's give our own prognosis for today (compared to last year's federal elections) and see how wrong we are...
CD&V-N-VA: 28.5% (25.8%)
VLD-Vivant: 19.8% (25.4%)
SP.a-Spirit: 22.2% (23.5%)
Groen!: 5.8% (3.9%)
Vlaams Blok: 22.5% (17.9%)
others: 1.2%
Although CD&V-N-VA and VB might get less and VLD-Vivant more...
Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086910441879215872004-06-11T01:15:00.000+02:002004-06-15T08:43:06.906+02:00Verhofstadt looses his wits...
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (VLD, Flemish liberals) is trying everything in order to limit the loss of the VLD in Sunday's European and regional elections. Since he made the elections a test of his federal government, he must be choking by now. There are a few constants in the polls of the last months, compared to the federal elections of last year. The Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086909120425214582004-06-11T00:49:00.000+02:002004-06-11T01:43:11.850+02:00European elections: The Netherlands
On Thursday, the Netherlands were together with the UK the first country the 2004 European elections were held. The 'unofficial' results provided by the municipalities were available in the late night. The European Commission is threatening the Dutch government with legal action, since this is a violation of an EU imposed embargo on the election results until Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086710334817084342004-06-08T17:55:00.000+02:002004-06-08T17:59:51.220+02:00New views on WW II
In this article, there is some interesting stuff about how Churchill wanted to make Hitler and Stalin fight their war and why he gave Poland to them and as well deliberatedly provoked the German attack on Norway and Denmark in order to protect the supply of Swedish steel to Germany.
Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086821631455601432004-06-08T01:00:00.001+02:002004-06-10T00:55:49.740+02:00Decentralization of Flemish government offices?
Today, Flemish Budget Minister Dirk Van Mechelen (VLD) proposed to decentralize the Flemish government offices. Only one third of the government employees (which total about 7,000) should stay in Brussels, while another third should move to Antwerp and the last third should move to Ghent.
For pragmatic reasons, it might be a good idea to Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086649917912034002004-06-08T01:00:00.000+02:002004-06-08T17:54:34.896+02:00Lost Atlantis found?
On Sunday, the BBC featured an article in which Dr Kuehne of the University of Wuppertal claims he has found Atlantis in Southern Spain. I quote from the article: "Satellite photos of a salt marsh region known as Marisma de Hinojos near the city of Cádiz show two rectangular structures in the mud and parts of concentric rings that may once have surrounded them. 'Plato wrote Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086541932526201502004-06-06T16:26:00.003+02:002004-06-06T19:12:12.526+02:00The Leuven closing hour
Last Tuesday, Leuven mayor Tobback gave in to protests of students and bar owners and decided to not impose the closing hour, for now. He will negotiate with the bar owners in order to decrease vandalism, noise nuisance, fighting and racism problems. So, that's settled for now.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086535849216058752004-06-06T16:26:00.002+02:002004-06-08T17:33:30.636+02:00Science fiction
You would probably not believe it, but these days, it's very hard to find some good new science fiction. Fantasy you can finds in tons, but not the real SF (not that I don't like certain fantasy, like Jordan, Eddings or Feist). Okay, there is still Star Wars and Star Trek, but those are genres in themselves. (Actually I did like the 19-volume New Jedi Order series and some of thePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086534574193170182004-06-06T16:26:00.001+02:002004-06-06T17:12:52.703+02:00The end of a consensus model?
I always admired the Finnish system for dealing with Finland's Swedish-speaking minority. Actually, the amount of Swedish-speakers decreased from about 12% around 1900 to about 6% now, but they are still one of the best protected minorities in the world.
Last week, I read on inttra.net the following: "In a decisive vote held late on Tuesday afternoon, the Finnish Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086533214277717912004-06-06T16:26:00.000+02:002004-06-09T00:24:48.530+02:00The Da Vinci code
About a month ago, I bought the Dutch translations of Dan Brown's books Angels & Demons (Het Bernini-mysterie) and The Da Vinci Code (De Da Vinci-code) after they were recommended by a friend. It has been a long time since I read books that keep me so focussed from the beginning till the end. I actually read the about 800 pages at once, only stopping at 5 am to get some sleep.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1086530705478592202004-06-06T15:56:00.000+02:002004-06-06T16:20:40.796+02:00One week till the elections
With only one week to go, the Christian Democrat CD&V is getting 31% in the polls for the regional elections and even 33% in the European elections. This means that a liberal-socialist coalition government will not be possible in Flanders, even not if they include the ecologist Groen! The CD&V will be able to pick its coalition partner freely and Yves Leterme is Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1085690883020344322004-05-27T22:11:00.000+02:002004-05-27T22:55:30.536+02:00Who said we live in a free country?
On Tuesday, the Louvain municipal council approved a draft bye-law that introduces a closing hour for pubs at 4 AM. To people in countries like the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland, this might seem quite late, but for Belgians, this is a time still a lot of people are in pubs. Louvain is one of most dazzling, partying student towns in the world, comparable Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1085688681849489032004-05-27T22:03:00.000+02:002004-06-06T15:56:40.586+02:00Back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire?
Last weekend, there was a kind of an odd meeting in Mariazell. At the end of the European Catholic's Days, the mass, celebrated by Vienna archbishop cardinal Schönborn, was attend by the presidents of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the countries that constitute the main portion of the Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1085425232200844902004-05-24T20:32:00.000+02:002004-05-24T21:09:44.230+02:00Closer to the elections
We are coming closer and closer to the regional and European elections of June 13. The election campaign is rather tame, even for Belgian standards. Too many things have gone wrong under the so-called 'purple' government coalition of socialists, liberals and ecologists, but none of opposition parties seems to be interessed in choosing for the frontal attack.
Nevertheless,Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1082925524480322942004-04-25T22:38:00.000+02:002004-04-25T22:42:56.233+02:00The Belgian cesspit (2)
This week, the British monthly The Sprout was taken out of the shelves after it published a 10-page issue about the Dutroux case and the paedophilia networks in Belgium. It implies politicians, the Roman Catholic Church and members of the Royal House. The alleged reason for the prohibition was the fact that "illegal autopsy pictures of Julie and Mélissa were published". IPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1082922640175020582004-04-25T21:50:00.000+02:002004-04-25T21:56:50.903+02:00The Vlaams Blok trial
Since I cannot put it better than Stephen Pollard, I'm just going to cite him. Stephen Pollard is a senior Fellow at the Centre for the New Europe, a Brussels-based think tank. Besides, he is a member of the British Labour Party and an adviser of Tony Blair. This piece is an opinion article, published in The Times of April 24.
I've seen the future: it's scary and BelgianPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1081330929234266512004-04-07T11:42:00.000+02:002004-04-07T12:36:09.013+02:00Political crisis in the Netherlands Antilles
After about nine months, the Netherlands Antilles cabinet of Prime Minister Mirna Louisa-Godett (FOL) finally fell this weekend. The direct cause was the refusal of Justice Minister Ben Komproe (FOL) to leave his post after protecting convicted party members from going to jail. FOL leader Anthony Godett couldn't take office in July last year, because Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1079708128288224002004-03-19T15:55:00.000+01:002004-04-25T22:00:10.076+02:00The Belgian cesspit
Western media are complaining Russia is not a democratic country, or is at least a directed democracy. But what about the Belgian particraty? The last weeks of Belgian political history were a succession of incompetency, plotting and scheming, disgrace and above all, the showing of the true colours of the Parti Socialiste.
Belgium has two major trade unions, the ABVV/FGTB (Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1079353496423334762004-03-15T13:24:00.000+01:002004-03-15T13:28:11.403+01:00Madrid
First, I want to express my sympathy for the Madrilene and Spanish people. Violence is never a solution. To kill hundreds of innocent people isn't a sign of nationalism, religiousness or ideology. Bombing trains like that just means that you are a lunatic and lost all humanity. Society can and will never give in to terrorism.
The conservative Partido Popular lost the elections. Spanish Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1077290905516492942004-02-20T16:28:00.000+01:002004-02-25T14:15:31.653+01:00Update (bis)
Since Monday, we have the following news:
- Former PM Fauzaya Talhaoui (Groen!) moves to Spirit.
- Ludo Sannen stepped down as Flemish regional Environment minister. He moves to SP.A. He is replaced by Jef Tavernier, who announced that he would use his last months as minister campaigning for Groen!
- NV-A Brussels local leader Bernard Daelemans doesn't want to go to the election in Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1076936320800571442004-02-16T13:58:00.000+01:002004-02-25T14:16:00.670+01:00Update
On Saturday, CD&V and NV-A announced they would go together to the June elections under the name of Vlaams Kartel (Flemish Cartel). The NV-A climbed down after the desastrous poll of last week and accepted the second offer of the CD&V to try to be together the biggest party in Flanders. They constructed a fairly radical Flemish nationalist programme in order to further decompose the Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1076772037142163622004-02-14T16:20:00.000+01:002004-02-14T16:23:11.263+01:00And the political circus goes on and on...
The election fever and discussion about the voting rights for non-EU citizens cost the political head of VLD president Karel De Gucht. While he defended fiercely the point of view of his party and the majority of the Flemish population, a coup was prepared under pressure of the Socialist coalition partners. Also, just before the VLD congress, a poll wasPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1075909380003119472004-02-04T16:43:00.000+01:002004-02-04T16:55:45.420+01:00Election fever and the political marshes in Belgium
The last weeks, Belgium has seen a rare display of political game-playing and rudeness. All this is related to the upcoming regional and European elections in June and the fact that the Flemish and Francophone socialist parties are likely to be the great victors in those elections. Their Flemish and Francophone liberal coalition partners will Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1075905476109418312004-02-04T15:37:00.000+01:002004-03-19T20:26:25.466+01:00The Hutton report
I will not waste my breath on exhaustively describing what I think of the report. Even if weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq, there is still freedom of speech/press. Who leaked the name of Kelly to the press is not the important thing in this case. The fact that Lord Hutton 'laundered' Tony Blair and blamed the BBC is beyond understanding, esp. in the same week Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1073516694684163402004-01-08T00:04:00.000+01:002004-04-09T14:52:20.436+02:00The headscarf ban
I was planning to write on this item for a few days, but Scott seems to be ahead of me and I also reacted at his piece overthere. Nevertheless, I'm going to share my opinion on this with you guys too.
Why has the debate started in Belgium at this moment? In se, it has nothing to do with the upcoming elections. The reason is explained by the Flemish proverb: "Als het regent in Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1073223292078927462004-01-04T14:34:00.000+01:002004-01-04T14:35:10.763+01:00Best wishes
I want to wish all readers a Happy New Year, without too much idiocy of GWB. I also hope that I can post more often in 2004.
Cheers
PeterPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1072482256762756582003-12-27T00:44:00.000+01:002003-12-27T00:46:19.250+01:00No European Constitution - God bless Europe
This month at the Brussels summit, European heads of government did not reach an agreement on the European Constitution that was drawn by the European Convention presided by the former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. And we can be glad there isn't one (yet).
Primo, Europe does not need a constitution. Only countries and some parts of Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1069251107799816662003-11-19T15:11:00.000+01:002003-11-19T20:51:47.973+01:00The Vlaams Blok trial
Yesterday, the Belgian High Court (called Court of Cassation) annulled a decision of the Brussels Court of Appeal that considered itself incompetent in a trial against three nonprofit organizations of the right-wing party Vlaams Blok. Since political parties in Belgium have no legal personality, the Federal Centre for Fight against Discrimination and Racism and the League Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1068298785947165092003-11-08T14:39:00.000+01:002004-04-09T14:49:36.436+02:00Flemish, Dutch, Netherlandic, what the hell?
A few days ago, I received an e-mail of our friend Wouter to ask us to be very careful with the terms Flemish and Dutch. Now, we usually are, but it is maybe the time and place to explain why there could be confusion or wrong use of terms.
Although you can sometimes even find it in foreign linguists' works, Flemish is not a separate language, but thePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1068062704057197782003-11-05T21:05:00.000+01:002003-11-05T21:05:07.556+01:00Liechtenstein will sign the EEA treaty
Today, the Liechtenstein government announced it will sign the treaty for the enlargement of the European Economic Area (cfr. post of November 4). The diplomatic quarrels between Liechtenstein and the Czech and Slovak republics are not solved though, because all parties maintain their original positions.Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1067977390249255662003-11-04T21:23:00.000+01:002003-11-05T21:01:37.293+01:00Liechtenstein spoils smoothy EEA enlargement
A serious quarrel between Liechtenstein on one side and the Czech and Slovak republics on the other side blocks the enlargement of the European Economic Area. The EEA was created in 1992 after the former EFTA countries Sweden, Finland and Austria joined the EU, like their predecessors the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Portugal. The EFTA was Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1067377650015102272003-10-28T22:47:00.000+01:002003-11-05T20:40:46.713+01:00European Region of the Year 2004
Every year, two regions are designated as European Region of the Year by an international jury of chairmen of European regions. These regions must belong to different countries, as is the case of the Balearic Islands (Spain) and the Republic of Karelia (Russia), European Region of the Year 2003, or Madeira (Portugal) and the German-speaking Community of Belgium, Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5932098.post-1065983170991782012003-10-12T20:26:00.000+02:002003-10-12T20:26:10.763+02:00Hello everyone,
"Vermetel" is a new blog operated by Peter Dirix and Jan Schenkel. "Vermetel" is a Dutch adjective and means "daring", "bold" or "audacious". We are going (to try) to give regular comments on what happens in international politics and society, with a special focus on Belgian, Dutch and European affairs. Occasionally, we will invite other authors to post on our blog. Posts will bePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04009925263706050243noreply@blogger.com0