Monday, February 21, 2011

"249 days without a government"


Belgians have been marking a near world record of 249 days without a government, due to political deadlock following June elections last year that failed to produce a clear winner.

Despite the ongoing political crisis, residents used Thursday to hold a "chips revolution", honouring a favourite national dish, with various events going on around the country.

"Of course it is serious that we have no federal government," Kris Peeters, the Flemish minister-president of Flanders, said.

"But on the other hand, I appreciate very much the humour of certain actions."

In Ghent, a Dutch-speaking region, organisers say 249 people stripped naked to mark the days of the crisis, while a group of people calling for a unity government are using the occasion to press their cause.

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