After around 290 days without government, Belgian students from both sides of Belgium - Flanders and Wallonia -, are joining together to end the political crisis that they have lived in since the former Prime Minister Yves Leterme submitted his resignation.

Everybody knows about the delicate political situation that the Belgian government is in. The record of the longest period without a government, which was once Iran's title, has now been filled by Belgium.

Following the revolutionary spirit, which swept all around the world, such as the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, Belgian students have decided not to remain silent. Hence, they chose to arrange themselves and take action since last January, when 240 days had past by without government.

Student left aside their political interests, as they really wanted a solution to this shameful situation. To this end they created a platform, integrating different students associations, collectively called "Not in my name" to bring together this action. To show that they are all united and protest. The first one took place on the 23rd of January with a demonstration in Brussels under the name of "Shame" to express what the Belgian population has been feeling towards their politicians. Also they took a virtual action creating "Camping 16" which consists in make a virtual camp in front of the Law Street (Rue de la Loi/Weststraat) where the Federal government has their principal building, 160.000 virtual campers were there to show their disagreement. As nothing changed, on the 17th of February and 29th of March, began the "Fries revolution" which is the popular name for this event. On those days, students decided to distribute free fries to everybody, in different cities of Belgium as a symbol of their cause.

Belgium is only one country but with a complicated political and language composition. There are three official languages: Dutch, French and German, which demarcate different communities divided by their language and regional governments, which control each of them. The root of the problem came from the break of consensus in the central government. As the Flemish liberal party left the coalition, which was the head government, the ex- Prime Minister Yves Leterme presented his resignation on the 22nd of April of the past year. Hence Belgians were called to vote on the 13th of June to choose their next parliament and political leader. In that election the Flemish Party N-VA, led by Bart de Wever, was elected but he could not gain enough support to create a new government. Even when king Alberto II was trying to resolve this crisis, his efforts were not enough.

The main problem here is the existence of confrontation between the two nationalist parties at both sides of the country: Flanders and Wallonia. In each, the independent parties claimed their own government, leaving the and essentially becoming new states. However most people in the streets identify themselves as Belgians. That is the reason why the platform "Not in our name" has shouted their protests for a united Belgium and claimed for a federal electoral district. Moreover they defend a federal social security and bilingual education. They are not alone, artists and intellectuals from both sides of the country are supporting their demonstrations with free music concerts. The next step will take place on May 7th when they will be making their voice heard again. The recent few days of protests were organized as a festival day which included a demonstration but also a popular picnic at Elisabeth Park, in Brussels.

Even when the political situation in Belgium is uncertain, the important thing is the spirit channeled through fries, speaking through one voice: unity. |