The third crisis

Following the political and financial crises Belgium is now facing a social crisis, the daily De Standaard warns: "The wave of redundancies that has swept our country in the past couple of weeks is only the first harbinger of the third crisis. ... But the social crisis - job losses, falling purchase power, the spiral of recession - threatens to be much more drastic. It is a crisis in which politics must play an important role, likewise the employers and the trade unions. Only if these three groups deal with the crisis in a responsible way can we limit the damage. ... The irresponsible behaviour of many bankers has certainly not helped to inspire confidence in employers. The senseless day of strikes last week leads us to expect the worst from the trade unions. And the budget that the government  of [Prime Minister Yves] Leterne has cobbled together undermines confidence in politicians".

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