Citizens up pressure on politicians

With their protests against the stalled process of government building, Belgium's citizens are making their voices heard loud and clear, the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes in approval: "Particularly pleasing is that the young people are getting out and protesting, those who are supposedly wallowing in a 'Politics? No thanks!' attitude. Non-affiliated artists and students who care about the future of their country, have used the Internet to call on people to protest - and an unexpectedly large number of people did, old and young, Flemish and Walloon, from all levels of society. Their message is as clear as it is surprising: rather than going out onto the street to get rid of an incompetent government, as has so often been the case, now they finally want to have one. ... Sunday's second message is also ... very gratifying. ... Because as opposed to what Belgian politicians never tire of suggesting, the Flemish and Walloon populations don't want to separate. On the contrary, they want their votes from June to be put to use, so that politicians will once and for all find a way for them to live in a federal but united Belgium."

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