Belgian Wafflers(A Belgian Election Thread)

[Esternial]

Don't know where you live but out here it's not as bad as you pretend it is.

The US, and the OP statement was meant in jest.

If you want to make a Belgian fiercely patriotic start talking about how divided our country is and you'll have me singing the brabançonne in front of the chateau de Laeken in a matter of minutes.

I'll trash talk Wallonians all day and they me but you lot haven't earned that.

[Shrillland]

The US, and the OP statement was meant in jest.

If you want to make a Belgian fiercely patriotic start talking about how divided our country is and you'll have me singing the brabançonne in front of the chateau de Laeken in a matter of minutes.

I'll trash talk Wallonians all day and they me but you lot haven't earned that.

What about the Germans?

[Esternial]

If you want to make a Belgian fiercely patriotic start talking about how divided our country is and you'll have me singing the brabançonne in front of the chateau de Laeken in a matter of minutes.

I'll trash talk Wallonians all day and they me but you lot haven't earned that.

What about the Germans?

Nobody mentions the Germans.

Don't mention the Germans.

[The Blaatschapen]

The US, and the OP statement was meant in jest.

If you want to make a Belgian fiercely patriotic start talking about how divided our country is and you'll have me singing the brabançonne in front of the chateau de Laeken in a matter of minutes.

I'll trash talk Wallonians all day and they me but you lot haven't earned that.

I have earned it.

I lived next to Belgium for years.

[Major-Tom]

Interesting to see both the Groens and Ecolo surging, though I'm not too knowledgeable here, I find myself supportive of their upwards trend.

[Shrillland]

Apologies for not updating, had a lot going on the days that I usually do so. With less than three weeks left, here are the latest news updates from the trail.

The recent murder of Julie Van Espen in Antwerp has exposed what many are calling problems in the underfunded Justice Ministry: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/07/had-voorkomen-kunnen-worden-wat-gebeurd-is-mocht-justitie-effici/

The alleged killer was actually supposed to be on trial for other crimes such as armed robbery and was sentenced to four years but was delaying the trial by using appeals. Many are now calling for Justice Minister Koen Geens' resignation and increased funding for the ministry.

PVDA-PTB councillors in Antwerp have been leaving at an unusually high rate: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/07/waarom-de-pvda-verschillende-gemeenteraadsleden-ziet-vertrekken/

VRT is discussing what possible coalitions could form(with N-VA still expected to lead in the Chamber, it's going to be difficult): https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/03/welke-partijen-kunnen-inhoudelijk-het-makkelijkst-een-regering-v/

[Nea Byzantia]

Can I vote for Tintin?

[Shrillland]

Can I vote for Tintin?

I suppose you could. I think he's in either MR or Ecolo.

[Nea Byzantia]

Can I vote for Tintin?

I suppose you could. I think he's in either MR or Ecolo.

Pour vrais?

[Shrillland]

I suppose you could. I think he's in either MR or Ecolo.

Pour vrais?

Probably not, but one can hope.

[Shrillland]

Now for the latest just a fortnight before the vote.

The FGTB/ABVV(Belgium's labour union federation) has been holding protests today against the salary policies of the current Michel Government, which according to the NBB/BNB(Belgium's national bank), have actively reduced consumer purchases: https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_etude-bnb-une-consommation-belge-freinee-par-la-politique-salariale-du-gouvernement-michel-pas-si-simple?id=10220216

de Wever is saying that the pension age should stay at 67 or possibly go up because people are living longer: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/14/de-wever-en-crombez-over-begroting/

even though that doesn't mean their bodies are still ready for work and even though they've worked hard all their lives to get their pension....but anyway.

CD&V is saying that they'll insist on compensating Arco victims as a bargianing chip at the coalition table: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/14/peeters-over-arco/

Arco, for those who don't know, is a cooperative holding company that suffered heavy losses in the Great Recession and a few years afterward when financial services company Dexia collapsed and its banking wing was nationalised in 2011 under the name Belfius. Investors were promised 40% of their money back, €600 million all told, which was primarily to come from Belfius' IPO on the Brussels Stock Exchange...which hasn't happened yet.

Google search data is showing a clear left/right difference between the regions with di Rupo leading searches in Wallonia while de Wever and Geens are leading in Flanders(de Wever leads in Belgium overall): https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_quels-sont-les-politiques-les-plus-recherches-sur-google-koen-geens-plus-que-bart-de-wever?id=10219442

Climate Minister Koen van den Huevel is saying that Belgium shouldn't take expert recommendations on combating climate change too quickly due to possible negative circumstances: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/13/expertenpanel-ging-aan-het-werk-voor-youth-for-climate-dit-zijn/

And VRT's done a piece on how the Michel Government's "Swedish Coalition"(named for the party colours) has fared: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/drafts/Politiek/michel-i-ii-sociale-herstelregering-die-zichzelf-onherstelbaar/

[Shrillland]

With just one week to go, here's the latest.

Crombez has called Groen Progressive, but not left-wing: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/05/17/john-crombez-sp-a-nieuw-pensioenmodel-dient-niet-om-begrotin/

DI Rupo and the PS, currently poised to get second place, has drawn 10 red lines that must be accepted for parties to form a government with them: https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_ps-les-10-priorites-et-les-lignes-rouges-du-ps-pour-participer-a-une-coalition?id=10224801

And now, for my projection.

N-VA is currently poised to come in first with 27 seats in the latest polls. This is a problem because N-VA doesn't want to work with any Walloon parties if they can help it. Nonetheless, they'll need at least one to get over the top. They're also willing to work with Groen but not Ecolo(although they are both green, they do have some differences partially because of Wallonia's greater lean to the left). SP and sp.a, meanwhile, refuse to compromise on lowering the retirement age, which means they'll likely not manage to cobble up right-leaning parties like MR to form an alternative. So, I think N-VA will be forced to climb down and return to the governing coalition with Jambon as the PM candidate. I'll say N-VA, MR, CD&V, Open VLD, and either Groen or VB for the coalition with 80-82 seats.

What do you guys think?

[Shrillland]

It's election day, so vote! It's compulsory so you don't actually need my reminder...

For the rest of us, polls close at..incredibly early, actually.

14:00 CEST for paper ballots(All of Wallonia, 45% of Flanders), 16:00 for electronic ballots(Brussels, 55% of Flanders, All German Communities)
13:00-15:00 BST
08:00-10:00 EDT

[Shrillland]

All polls are closed...no exit poll apparently.

[Esternial]

Seems like a lot of people are voting for the xenophobic socialists.

[Shrillland]

Seems like a lot of people are voting for the xenophobic socialists.

Yeah, VB's outperforming everywhere in Flanders, they're even keeping it close in Antwerp even if they're not actually leading anywhere there. I'm also noticing the sp.a is being destroyed by Groen and the PVDA.

[Esternial]

Seems like a lot of people are voting for the xenophobic socialists.

Yeah, VB's outperforming everywhere in Flanders, they're even keeping it close in Antwerp even if they're not actually leading anywhere there. I'm also noticing the sp.a is being destroyed by Groen and the PVDA.

SPA is rather bland, really. I can't imagine why one wouldn't just vote Groen since they're just as socialist.

[Shrillland]

Yeah, VB's outperforming everywhere in Flanders, they're even keeping it close in Antwerp even if they're not actually leading anywhere there. I'm also noticing the sp.a is being destroyed by Groen and the PVDA.

SPA is rather bland, really. I can't imagine why one wouldn't just vote Groen since they're just as socialist.

That's what they're doing except in West Flanders for some reason....and in Wallonia, the first Walloon Parliament numbers from Namur are coming in, and they're just switching to PS and PTB/PVDA, Ecolo doesn't seem to be growing yet.

[Gigaverse]

Seems like a lot of people are voting for the xenophobic socialists.

Yeah, VB's outperforming everywhere in Flanders, they're even keeping it close in Antwerp even if they're not actually leading anywhere there.

holy shit

should i be afraid

[Shrillland]

Yeah, VB's outperforming everywhere in Flanders, they're even keeping it close in Antwerp even if they're not actually leading anywhere there.

holy shit

should i be afraid

Don't know yet. Brussels is coming in now and Ecolo is leading in the only place that's reporting.

[Gigaverse]

holy shit

should i be afraid

Don't know yet. Brussels is coming in now and Ecolo is leading in the only place that's reporting.

i... guess there's no real risk of them becoming that big in Brussels, right...?

[Shrillland]

Don't know yet. Brussels is coming in now and Ecolo is leading in the only place that's reporting.

i... guess there's no real risk of them becoming that big in Brussels, right...?

Nah, it's looking like it'll be MR and Ecolo in the lead there right now, still early numbers though.

[Esternial]

Yeah, VB's outperforming everywhere in Flanders, they're even keeping it close in Antwerp even if they're not actually leading anywhere there.

holy shit

should i be afraid

Depends on where you live. Some of VB's positions aren't even that bad...well, I know one that I didn't see presented by another party, which is to invest in Thorium nuclear reactors.

Aside from that they're just xenophobic socialists/communists. Little added value that other parties can't provide and no distinguishing economic policies I know of.

[Shrillland]

holy shit

should i be afraid

Depends on where you live. Some of VB's positions aren't even that bad...well, I know one that I didn't see presented by another party, which is to invest in Thorium nuclear reactors.

Aside from that they're just xenophobic socialists/communists. Little added value that other parties can't provide and no distinguishing economic policies I know of.

N-VA's still looking like it'll take a diminished lead though..before they dropped it, VRT had them at 25 to VB's 18.

[Esternial]

Antwerp is almost entirely yellow.

Depends on where you live. Some of VB's positions aren't even that bad...well, I know one that I didn't see presented by another party, which is to invest in Thorium nuclear reactors.

Aside from that they're just xenophobic socialists/communists. Little added value that other parties can't provide and no distinguishing economic policies I know of.

N-VA's still looking like it'll take a diminished lead though..before they dropped it, VRT had them at 25 to VB's 18.

27*