Di Rupo’s guide to saving a country

"Elio Di Rupo breaks all the taboos", writes a pleased La Libre Belgique. In a one-hundred page policy document presented to King Albert II on July 4, the formateur laid out the steps to resolve the crisis that has torn Belgium for over a year: consolidation of public finances, reform of the Finance Act, splitting the BHV (Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde electoral arrondissement), delegating more responsibilities to the regions, and certain socio-economic reforms.

Di Rupo “proposes a thorough reorganisation of public finances in the order of 22 billion euros" by 2015, notes L’Echo. The goal: to balance the budget and get the country out of the sights of the rating agencies.

On the institutional side, Di Rupo proposes splitting up the Bruxelles Halle-Vilvoorde district, which straddles the Brussels-Capital Region and the Flemish region. The 150,000 francophones living in Flemish municipalities is one cause of tension between the two communities.

There would be three districts for federal and European elections: Brussels-Capital, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant. In return, the rights of the francophones in the six municipalities with special status [where Francophones have specific rights] will be consolidated, and they will also be able to vote in the constituency of their choice. The procedure for appointing mayors of municipalities with special status will be modified... What will the N-VA [Flemish majority party, nationalist], who wanted a split without compensations to the francophones, say to this?

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"The moment of truth has indeed come," writes Le Soir. While welcoming an outline that is "balanced and courageous," the French-language daily asks whether it is a winning strategy:

Nothing is less certain.For, in the north, one is already wondering about the Copernican nature of the proposals.Does it or does it not tip the centre of gravity towards the federal entities? (...) Untrue, some Flemish parties will no doubt counter, arguing that the real levers of decision-making are not being transferred to the regions.They are right.The Federal State retains its two pillars.Social security is amputated, but the heart is still intact.And control of the fiscal authority, essential to the viability of the country, remains in federal hands.If some Flemish parties are not satisfied with these two trophies carted away from Belgium in the same basket, let them say so straight away.

For La Libre Belgique, the note is "above all audacious”, which is good news. After all, "if it wants a future, this country, mired in non-negotiations for over a year, needs courage."

The Flemish press also welcomes also the courage of Di Rupo. The formateur, explains De Morgen, was inspired by the "Greek tragedy".

Elio came back [from Greece] with tears in his eyes, so touched was he by the tales of radical austerity measures in Greece. More than ever before, he has realised that the political crisis in our country should be resolved more swiftly.

The daily believes that

... the Flemish side was clever enough not to immediately torpedo the list, which consists mainly of concrete proposals.Moreover, that would have been impossible in practice: this document is not an end-run, but the biggest overture that Di Rupo could hope to have created.To torpedo it would take them out of the game.

In fact, remarks De Standaard,

Di Rupo has strategically confronted De Wever [the leader of the N-VA] with the most difficult decision of his political career.He is entitled to consider this proposal inadequate.He promised more to his constituents, and they still support him.But he must ask himself whether a better opportunity will ever come along.