More than 30,000 Belgians demonstrated in capital Brussels on
Sunday to protest against a possible division of the country as the
impasse in forming a new government continued five months after
elections.
Thousands of citizens
take part in a march urging the leading politicians not to break up
the country and to find a solution to form a government after a
June election in Brussels on Nov. 18, 2007.
The demonstrators, many of whom dressed in the Belgian national
colors -- red, yellow and black, marched through the city center.
They marched to the tune of the Brabanconne, Belgium's national
anthem.
Most of the demonstrators were French-speaking Walloons and
residents in the capital. Some Francophone politicians also joined
in, including Elio Di Rupo, chairman of the Francophone socialist
party, and Joelle Milquet, chairman of the Francophone Christian
democrats.
A petition was handed over to Belgium's Senate President Armand
De Decker at the end of the demonstration. The petition calls on
Belgium's political parties to overcome their differences and
preserve the country's unity.
Over the last few days, around 140,000 people signed the
Internet petition, which was initiated by a civil servant in Liege.
The same person called Sunday's demonstration.
The protest came as attempts to form a new government continue
to flounder 161 days after parliamentary elections. Conflicting
interests of Belgium's two main regions -- French-speaking Wallonia
and Flemish-speaking Flanders -- brought the country to the brink
of a crisis.
The winners of the June elections, the Flemish and Francophone
Christian Democrats and Liberals, are making their third try at
forming a center-right alliance after two failed attempts.
Flemish politicians have been demanding more self-rule for the
region, home to 60 percent of the country's population and a region
richer than Wallonia. But Wallonian parties fiercely oppose it.
Some right-wing parties are calling for Flanders to declare
independence.
(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2007)
