Democratic decline is an ever-salient topic in Brussels, as critics brand the European institutions "technocratic" and the executive's accountability is called into question.
But beyond the realm of EU affairs another political failure is playing out beneath our noses. Yesterday marked one year since the Belgian elections, a date that might go unmarked were it not for the fact that the Brussels region is still without a government – an unprecedented hold-up that is driving the city's finances into the wall.
To make matters worse, not only is there no authority to slam on the brakes, but hardly anyone even notices the problem – not least in the Berlaymont fiefdom where attention to local matters is strictly optional. It's enough to know that Brussels is hopelessly complicated, grossly inefficient, and permanently under construction (just look at the state of the roundabout).
Viewed from the Bubble, the city itself is seen as exemplary of Belgium's backwardness, a place where layers of administration become so elaborate that any attempt to get your head around how things work is futile. They don't.
It's an unfortunate attitude, but one that can be forgiven. Belgium is indeed a strange country and its peculiarities are amplified in the capital city. To recap: Brussels has been at a political standstill for the last year as certain parties refuse to accept coalitions that involve rival parties in the other language group.
Normally Dutch and French language majorities would be formed independently of each other; in practice Brussels has become a battleground for historic opponents. Add some awkward maths into the mix and you have the makings of a major headache.
For residents this is a sorry situation, with the city plunging deeper into debt as it runs eye-watering budget deficits. But alarmingly, the problem is prolonged thanks to a budgetary mechanism known as "provisional twelfths", which dispenses one twelfth of 2024's total expenditure each month. Whilst this system keeps essential public services running, it also diminishes the financial impetus to resolve the political deadlock.
Regional debt now stands at over €15 billion. But our elected representatives are free to shout at each other from the sidelines (their salaries are also covered by the twelfths).
So it was that with no resolution in sight, some 500 frustrated Bruxellois congregated in front of the old stock exchange (the de facto stage for political protest) on Monday – a meagre turnout given the cause of their discontent.
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