Suchergebnisse

Translation of La Belgique héroique et vaillante. ; "Awarded the Audiffred prize by the French Academy of Moral and Political Science." ; Mode of access: Internet.

This article explores the interactions between the memories of Belgian peacekeepers killed in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the weight of the colonial past, and the Belgian foreign policy. Using interviews with Belgian politicians and diplomats, families of peacekeepers, former blue helmets, as well as a corpus of official speeches, this article finds that the memorialization of blue helmets has influenced Belgian political choices on three levels, namely: domestic politics, its bilateral relationship with Rwanda, and more broadly its position in international peacekeeping. In doing so, this article contributes to interdisciplinary debates on the role of collective memory in domestic and international politics.

Astreinte proceedings, a well known feature of the French law of civil procedure, has been recently introduced into the Belgian legal system. The introduction was brought about by statutory means, the Law of January 31, 1980, that actually introduced into Belgian law the provisions of a Benelux convention on astreinte to apply uniformly in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. The provisions are based on those of the Dutch law rather than French law so that what is taken over from the French law relates mainly to the fundamental concept of astreinte and its name.

An English summarization of Mark Deweerdt's "Overzicht van het Belgische politiek gebeuren in 1999" ([Survey of Belgian Politics in 1999] 2000).

The center-left Martens VIII cabinet, which had taken office in May 1988 following the longest political cricis in Belgian history, continued in 1989 implementation of its constitutional reform program. The European elections had no domestic impact, but during the campaign the focus was once again on the burning immigration issue. Meanwhile, abortion liberalization caused tension inside the majority. In foreign affairs, the focus was on normalization of relations with Zaire.

In this month of December 1950, Belgian Municipal Credit, which deserves a place of honour in the history of modern collective economy institutions, will be celebrating its 90th birthday. The Annals of Collective Economy are happy to bring to their readers on this occasion an article which the Managing Director of Belgion Municipal Credit has kindly agreed to write for them, and for which the editors would like to thank the. author most warmly.

In 1990, Belgium's domestic political agenda was overshadowed by international events. Developments in Zaire, Rwanda and especially in the Gulf often forced Belgian political leaders to set aside their domestic preoccupations. On the pending constitutional reform issues no substantial progress was made. At the end of 1990, many bills dealing with economic issues awaited parliamentary approval. In the fall, labor and management reached a nationwide inter-industry collective bargaining agreement and a new pension bill was adopted by Parliaiment.

During the first Jour months of 1988, Belgium witnessed the painstaking formation of the Martens VIII center-left Cabinet. In October 1987, the Christian Democratic-Liberal Martens VI Cabinet had been forced to resign over the perennial Fourons affairs. After the parliamentary elections of December 1987 which had resulted in a Socialist victory, the center-left Martens VIII Cabinet wassworn in on May 9, 1989, marking the end of a political crisis which had lasted 147 days; i.e., the longest crisis in Belgian history. During the remaining months of 1988, the new Government sought parliamentary approval for its ambitious constitutional reform program, having very little time left for continuing the economie recovery policy started under the Martens VI Cabinet.During the second half of 1988, relations between Belgium and Zaire deteriorated.

Whereas the Belgian politica! world had planned a calm transitional political year leading to the January 1992 general elections, 1991 was a year of political turmoil resulting in the resignation of the cabinet and genera! elections. The Martens VIII cabinet had planned to implement the third and final phase of its constitutional reform package. However, in the fall tension rapidly rose inside the cabinet. White the majority parties were positioning themselves for the next elections, a row over arms sale licences caused the fall of the cabinet. First the Volksunie left, but only a few days later Prime Minister Martens had to submit the resignation of bis cabinet. In the ensuing genera! electiOns, all the traditional parties lost ground except PW and the losses were particularly severe for the Flemish Christian Democrats (CVP) and the Flemish Socialists (SP). Winners were the ultra-right Vlaams Blok in Flanders and the ecologists (Ecolo) in Francophone Belgium.

For the third consecutive year, Belgian politics was to a large extent dominated by the aftermath of the Dutroux pedophile case. The political world was under pressure to reform the judiciary & the police forces, as these had shown lack of competence in this case. The pressure mounted after Dutroux's brief escape on 23 Apr, which caused the resignation of the ministers of Interior (Van de Lanotte) & of Justice (De Clerck). Dutroux's escape, however, reunited the majority & the opposition parties to make a deal on the reforms of the judiciary & the police forces (the Octopus agreements). The aftermath of Dutroux's escape, & the Octopus agreements overshadowed the entry of Belgium into the EMU. It also made an end to the everlasting speculations about snap elections. From autumn 1998 onward, most attention was paid to the policy on asylum & the Agusta/Dassault trial. The death of a Nigerian refugee during her forced repatriation caused the resignation of deputy Prime Minister Tobback, & a limited adjustment of the procedure to grant asylum. In Dec 1998, the Court of Cassation convicted the politicians that were charged in the Agusta/Dassault bribery cases. Other important issues in 1998 were the policy on employment, the right to vote for non-Belgian citizens & disputes on the implementation of the language laws in communities with a special linguistic status. Adapted from the source document.

In 1996, Belgian politics centered around three major issues: the jobs contract, the 1997 budget and political fallout of the Dutroux affair (the four girls killed by a pedophile ring).During the first months of the year, Prime Minister Dehaene attempted to win support for a comprehensive jobs contract, but the draft agreement was turned down by the Socialist trade union militants. Nevertheless, the measures contained in the agreement were later implemented by the cabinet, without the consent of the employers and organized labor. Together with adjustments made to the social security system and implementation of budgetary measures needed to reach the conditions set by the EU for joining the Economic and Monetary Union, the jobs contract was implemented by means of special powers. The cabinet obtained these special powers from Parliament before the summer recess. After the summer, as a result ofthe Dutroux alfair, the cabinet dealt with legal reform, in the process trying to quell tensions arisen among the law enforcement agencies.