14 June 2010 - This cartoon by Joep Betrams from the Dutch newspaper Parool symbolizes the state of affairs in Belgium. Yesterday the Belgians held parliamentary elections, which could bring the country closer to a constitutional split. The Flemish separatists party is reported to have more than 20% of the votes, with the party's leader openly advocating a separation of the Dutch-speaking Flanders from French-speaking Wallonia. However, the Flemish will have to form a coalition Government with a French speaking party, most likely the Socialists. For years most of Belgiums' politics has been defined by endless debates over language and the allocation of public resources. Voting is mandatory in Belgium and more than 7 million people would have cast their vote.
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