BELGIAN PARLIAMENT DISSOLVES ITSELF

07.05.2010 [23:07]
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Baku, May 7 (AZERTAC). Belgium`s parliament dissolved itself Thursday, paving the way for elections in June made inevitable by the collapse of the ruling coalition last month.

During the parliament`s final session a deputy from the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interests) ended his own speech with a cry of “Long live free Flanders, may Belgium die.”

The government of Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme fell last month after a key member of the five-party coalition, the Flemish liberal Open VLD walked out, frustrated over talks aimed at decreasing special rights for French speakers in Dutch-speaking Flanders.

The lower house chamber of deputies adopted a list of more than 50 articles of the constitution which could be modified by the next legislature, a move which automatically triggered the dissolution of parliament. Minutes later the upper house Senate did the same.

The formal decision will be published in the official gazette Friday after which general elections must be held in 40 days.

BELGIAN PARLIAMENT DISSOLVES ITSELF

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