World record for governmentless Belgium

As of today Belgium holds the world record for the longest process of forming a government - 249 days and counting. The Belgians are mockingly marking the occasion with a festival, but this particular record is nothing to be proud of, the daily De Morgen writes: "Replacing Iran as the record-holder doesn't exactly do much for our international reputation. And worse still is that no one knows yet how to break through the total blockade. ... There is no agreement on the coalition form, no agreement on method, on the content or on whether new elections are desirable or not. After 249 days we're basically where we were on the evening of the elections. We're expecting the speculators to launch an international attack or some other catastrophe that would force us to find a compromise. The political class is effectively abdicating its responsibilities. But we the people aren't taking to the street in protest, no, we're actually organising a street party to congratulate our politicians. Ironic melancholy dressed up as surrealism. In the end this is typical of Belgium."

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