Belgians strip down to undies to protest 249 days of political stalemate
By ANIFriday, February 18, 2011
LONDON - A number of protestors took to the streets of Belgium and stripped down to their underwear in protest of the 249 days they have gone without a government.
The group of about 50, mostly students, stripped to their underwear in the northern city of Ghent and stood to form the word “unity” after leaders of 6 million Dutch-speakers were pitted against those of 4.5 million French speakers.
More than 1,000 people in the French-speaking town of Louvain-la-Neuve, carried the colours of the Belgian flag and formed the words “Een-Un” - “One is One” - in Dutch and French.
They called for more unity instead of the infighting, sniping and backbiting that has made it impossible to form a national government.
“There”s an expression in Dutch to be naked and meaning to make a fool of oneself,” the Telegraph quoted co-organiser Jouwe Vanhoutteghem, a masters student at Ghent University, as saying.
“Nothing has happened, the politicians have negotiated for 249 days and it is still a stalemate so they are making fools of themselves,” Vanhoutteghem stated.
It is arguable whether 249 really is the world record, as Iraq took 249 days to get the outlines of a government agreement last year, but the approval of that government took a further 40 days. (ANI)
