Toespraak Koning Albert 2012 Nationale Feestdag Belgie

Marriage Anniversary of the King and Queen

Today in 1959 King Albert II and Queen Paola were married. Did the younger brother of the King and the Italian princess imagine at that time that they would ever have to take the position of being the King and Queen for the nation? King Baudouin was still not married, only a few years on the throne and everyone probably still assumed he would get married and be able to have children of his own and Prince Albert would only be in the position of perhaps Prince Laurent today. Would Queen Paola have given the same answer to the proposal if she knew she would one day have to be the Queen, with all of the pressures, scrutiny and responsibilities that position means? I hope so, but can we ever know for certain? Over 53 years of marriage, most certainly today, is a great accomplishment and, we all know, it has not always been easy for the first couple of Belgium. It is not worth talking about but all the people know things have not always gone perfectly for the King and Queen, there have been mistakes, hard times but, we give thanks, forgiveness and reconciliation in the end. I would not want to think of how things would be if the King had married someone else. Queen Paola has been the best queen in the world for Belgium and she really, I think, has always put the Belgian people first every time. The King also has had very large problems in the terms of politics, to deal with but he keeps always the 'ship of state' sailing forward. They also have been good parents, raising very good children. Congratulations to their Majesties then on a very successful 53 years of marriage today, taking alot of hard work but doing a great job together for the country!

Bon Anniversaire!

Today is 74th birthday for SM King Albert II. All best wishes to him!

Vive le roi! Leve de koning!

Our Great Kings, Part VI, Albert II

Finally we come to our King today, Albert II, who is often made light of by the people who make a profession of mockery but who is held in high regard by those in the government and society who actually work with him on a regular basis and this is significant to know. Unlike most of the kings before him, his influence on policy is very restricted and it seems that the attitude of the people today in general is less respectful toward the monarchy than in the past and this hurts not only the reputation of the King but also the cohesion of the country. But the King has been probably the most diligent and involved monarch of all the kings and queens today. This is because he has to deal with issues most other monarchs do not have to deal with and he has shown, even if he is not always appreciated for it, just how central and important the monarchy is for Belgium and in this way he has been very dutiful in keeping to his oath to defend the unity and integrity national of Belgium. He has not always been free from error but he has persisted in doing everything in his power to keep the country together, make peace between the disputing parties and keep a positive image for the country to the world. The King has shown he is always ‘on call’ and has had to step in during emergencies many times as the only person in the government everyone recognizes as being above partisanship.

The King has been very careful to avoid any hint of favoritism and a willingness to work with anyone except for those who have destructive intentions towards the kingdom. He has worked constantly promote the Belgian economy and friendly relations with countries all over the world. All of this he has done with the smile and laugh everyone recognizes. In times of tragedy he is the first to offer comfort to those involved, he has a tradition of always giving generously to those who write to him asking for his help and when hard financial times hit the government he set the example by willingly giving up any increase in his own allowance. Everyone who knows him has attested to his friendly nature, charming personality, good humor and humble familiarity. He is known as a very human humanitarian. There are other monarchs, I know, who are possibly more celebrated in the media but myself I cannot imagine most of these doing what our King has had to do on several occasions, really being the key mediator in political disputes over the forming of a government. In most countries the monarch has no part in this at all, even if there are negotiations, they are done and the king or queen is just informed after the fact. In Belgium, without the King, maybe nothing would be done at all. For being so diligent in his duty, devoted to his country and still keeping a laugh, I think Albert II is a great King.

Kerst Toespraak 2011 Koning Albert van Belgie 24 25 december

The King and the New Government

Yesterday, in the presence of the King at Laeken Palace the new government was sworn in. So it is finally over. The bad jokes can stop, politicians wives can stop withholding sex from their husbands, patriotic men can shave their beards off and everyone be glad that the country will not be falling apart right now, at least not because of the deadlock of the parties. One thing that prompted an agreement to finally be made was the inability of the caretaker government to deal with the worsening economic crisis, not just across the European Union but Belgium itself also when agencies downgraded Belgian credit rating from AA+ to AA, which will make borrowing money more expensive (not that I understand economics at all). So, after all this time, even the parties began to realize that if Belgium did not have some kind of government, if even it was not ideal, the two halves of the country would be ruined together. So, finally an agreement was made and the King asked Elio Di Rupo to take the position of Prime Minister. It is one of the smallest governments Belgium ever had with only 13 ministers and 6 secretaries of state. In this case, at this time, maybe smaller is better anyway.

Not everyone of course is happy. That is not going to be surprising but what might be is just what some people are complaining about. One headline said of the new cabinet, “Too few women and too West Flemish”. Is this for a joke? Over five hundred days of deadlock and no government and some people are complaining because only 6 of the 19 are women and 6 of the Flemings are all from West Flanders. Too little diversity? But surely having Elio Di Rupo for Prime Minister should count for a number of different minorities. Limburg has no representative, Antwerp only 3 (hey!) and, for the first Francophone prime minister in decades there is worry for the ability of Elio Di Rupo to speak Dutch (he does not do it very well). The feminists are upset, many Flemings are upset (which should have been expected under the circumstances, by both groups) and one feminist Fleming said there is “no excuse” for this outrage! My apologies for not having all groups represented ideally but really, it was 541 days without any government at all! Obviously not everyone will have everything they want and when this much time has passed by and the situation becomes more and more serious the choices will clearly be worse and worse. This mentality itself is for me what is upsetting. It is no wonder the country seems always on the brink of collapse when everyone is keeping a chart to see if “their” side, group, language, gender, region and everything else is always represented no less than every other one with their own charts.

With everyone talking about the deal that was made, who gets this or that and how many “firsts” this represents for Elio Di Rupo being Prime Minister, the one person the media overlooks in all this is the most important, THE KING! It was all along the King who was the only person involved in the process with no ulterior motives or agenda, no special interest for anything before the nation entire and there was no one like the King who put everything else aside to find an agreement that would be in the best interests of the country. In 2007, 2010 and this year the King had to call off his vacation time because of the crisis and we know how many times he has had to pick new mediators, persuade mediators to stay on and acted himself as a broker between the leading politicians. Before anyone applauds too highly Monsieur Di Rupo, remember the times he was wanting to give up on the process but the King recalled him and persuaded him to stay on and see things through until an agreement was at last reached. While foreign politicians mock Belgium for this impasse and while the media makes a big joke of the inability of the parties to work together it has all the time been the King who has done his duty, ignoring all else, refusing to participate in any festivities so long as the work of the state was left undone because of the deadlock.

Think back to how many mediators resigned over these difficulties. Can I remember them all? Not at all, Bart De Wever, as a courtesy, made the first effort but no one was having anything to do with him. Elio Di Rupo then came in, tried and failed. Danny Pieters and Andre Flahaut took their turn, I remember Johan Vande Lanotte who quit after three months of negotiations (who tried to resign earlier but the King refused him). He was followed by Didier Reynders (who I cannot help find funny, something about him makes me always laugh) then there was Wouter Beke of the Christian Democratic and Flemish Party, also ending in frustration and finally Elio Di Rupo again who has finally emerged as the Prime Minister. Throughout all of these people who tried, grew frustrated and failed in these hundreds of days, the one permanent, reliable and sincere figure who never gave up and who always had only the best interests of his country at heart was King Albert II. He should be given credit for all of his efforts, he is the real hero in this ugly display of partisanship and it is the King who everyone should applaud and be proud of. Vive le Roi! Leve de Koning!

Royal Nose in the News

King Albert II made a short visit to the hospital to have surgery on his nose to treat basal cell carcinoma today. Official Belgian monarchie website says it was not serious and the surgery was successful and the King has been able to go home. I hope he feels better!

The King Will Not Quit

Rumors, which I never gave credit for truth, that the King was wishing to abdicate are not true according to royal adviser Pierre-Yves Monette. In an interview with RTL-TVi Monette said what we all should know. That after five hundred days of deadlocked negotiations the King is extremely frustrated, Monette said, "After 500 days the King has had enough". In addition though he also says that does not mean the King is ready to quit or desires to abdicate. He is very frustrated with the position of stagnation but he is not frustrated with being our King, which he loves and wishes to continue. I never believed the rumors but it is nice to hear this reassurance. Alone in the (non)government the King is only Belgian and looking out for the country and all the people. Whatever happens with the selfish political class, the King will always be King of the Belgians until he is called by God. I sympathize with his position and am grateful for him doing all he can to preserve the country, our national integrity and showing that we have two (or three) languages but we are ONE people. Leve de koning! Vive l'roi!

No Holiday for King Albert

King Albert II cannot get a break! It is true, every time the King tries to go on break and take a holiday his feuding politicians force him to come back home to try to get all the children to behave themselves and play nice with each other. In August of 2007 the King had to leave sunny southern France from vacationing because Prime Minister Yves Leterme (Flemish Christian Democrat) had enough and wanted to quit his position. In July 2010 the King could not even leave on his hoped for vacation because of the politicians fighting, in an argument still unresolved. This year the King tries again but the crisis do not stop. First he had to stop his vacation and return home because of the Pukkelpop music festival tragedy and just after deciding to try again to have a little break the King is now having to fly home from Nice because of the breakdown in government formation talks led by Francophone socialist leader Elio Di Rupo. The King was already being frustrated with them for taking so long to accomplish anything and urged them to at least quickly reach an agreement on state reforms.

What has been happening there? Mr. Di Rupo has been giving the appearance of being ready to quit himself because of the political deadlock but did just finally reach one agreement on the division of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde which has been the subject of contention for a long time, almost since the start of the great Belgian experiment in federalism. Di Rupo turned up the drama meter and basically told everyone the world would come to an end today if they did not make some agreement about the BHV and the burgomasters of the three Flemish municipalities around Brussels with language facilities, which they have. So, some progress is made on the BHV which has been argued about for 48 years since it was created in 1963. But we know that this does not solve the problem of Belgium having no government. This push to solve the BHV problem was started by the King who has been frustrated watching the conditions for the people growing worse in the face of the economic crisis but with the political deadlock preventing taking new action to deal with the problems. The King hoped getting the BHV problem out of the way would make the negotiators able to deal with the budget and social economic issues that are greatly needed.

King & Queen Visit Pukkelpop Disaster Site

Story here. Something similar happened I heard in the United States recently. Someone should take greater precautions for the bad weather or see that the stages are built more sturdily.

The King, Elections and Norway

The King has sent all the negotiators home for a break from the government formation efforts, saying that everyone, their staff workers included, needed a vacation from the constant negotiations. The King also is in need of this as the palace and even Queen Paola have said that his health is becoming weakened by the stress and anxiety of this issue, he must take medication to sleep and is becoming more exhausted. All the time that goes by makes it seem more likely new elections will be called but the King has resisted this for fear that another attempt at voting could only increase the strength of the N-VA. We also note with great sadness the tragedy that has happened in Norway, our close friends and allies, by a ultra-right extremist. It is also noteworthy that in the manifesto published by the mass-murderer is praise for the extremist parties across Europe, including the N-VA. This should, I think, really give the Flemish people some concern for the party a majority have voted for. Obviously, any party which such a hate-filled murderer could admire does not share the common values of the Flemish people who are, I am sure, as sickened by this event as anyone. I know, it is half my family and they are proud to be Flemish but not at all hateful of any other people (they also really think of themselves as Belgians and never would vote N-VA anyway but). If this man considers Bart De Wever a great political leader that should be sufficient cause really for anyone to want to keep him out of any position of power in Europe.

King Albert II Applauded for Speech

Everyone knows the King as a jovial man who liked to laugh but he is serious in his concern for Belgium and people were surprised this National Day by how forceful and frustrated the King was in his speech. You can see it in French and Dutch. I am in complete agreement. The King said, quoting the English constitutional monarchy theoretician, that the King can advise, be advised and warn and since he had given all the advice he can and been given advice from the politicians now he has decided to use his power to warn. He warned that the politicians need to grow up and get along or else all of the people will soon suffer, also that Belgian interests around the world will suffer -the King making mention of the crisis of women abuse in the Congo that he wants the UN and EU to address and also he warned that Belgium was a model for European integration and that if Belgium cannot get along with Brussels being the capital city of Europe it could be a terrible blow for the whole European Union. And that is all perfectly true. After the speech, at a concert and at a Church thanksgiving, the King has been warmly applauded and most seem very supportive of him and in total agreement with his statement. I have already heard numerous say it is his best speech ever, certainly his most impassioned plea for national unity. There has also been more talk, in Gazet van Antwerpen, that the frustrated King is tired of these constant squabbles and wishes to abdicate to give the throne to Prince Philippe but only after the current crisis is resolved. Really, this is speculation, no one knows that and as much as I like Prince Philippe I would also not like to see the King abdicate, the only other abdication in the Belgian monarchy having a bad impression. Really this shows though the level of concern the King has and how heavy he has felt in his heart over his hard duties in trying to make a compromise so the government can be formed to handle the business important of the country. He is doing his best, with the best motives and it is good to see him have some appreciation this National Day. Leve de Koning! Vive le Roi!

Kan koning Albert naar verjaardag Burundi?

Mag koning Albert II naar het Afrikaanse Burundi? Het is een vraag die het demissionaire Belgische kabinet voorlopig niet wil beantwoorden.

Another Royal Birthday

Today SM Albert II is 77 years old, Happy Birthday to the King!

The new prince with his father King Leopold III

Light in the Tunnel?

The news I have just heard is that SM Albert II has appointed socialist leader Elio di Rupo to the position of "formateur", which would be significant as those given that position usually go on to be the leaders of the government, the prime minister for Belgium. What I have heard is that Elio di Rupo reached out to the Flemish parties and agreed that the centralized government most Francophone parties have preferred was obviously a thing of the past and that he agreed there should be greater autonomy for the regions. Which maybe, I think, could work but it would have to be done not like it was in the past with no one really giving up any power just spreading it over a wider area, with new departments, making the government system extremely complicated with so many layers most people could never understand and non-Belgians certainly could not. Will the talked-about constitutional changes be possible even if Di Rupo can take the next step and form a government? I do not know.

Elio di Rupo is not my favorite politician, I really don't like him (and not because he is homosexual) he does not seem like the serious type to handle big problems. I also don't think the socialist policies have been good for the country. To me it looks like they make the Walon dependent and the Flamand resentful. However, I would guess the King is just getting very frustrated with this situation and thinks Di Rupo has the best chance to form a government with enough support besides the unspeakable Bart De Wever. If there is to be a new government at last, getting the N-VA to go along with it will surely be the hardest part of it. Those involved have said they know this will be difficult, their views are very divergent but that for the good of the people they must make the effort to try to come to some understanding that will give us a government. Belgium (everyone knows by now) has been without a national government for longer than any other country. Do I think it the best to have Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo? No, I do not, but I support the King and I hope that whoever has the task can succeed and finally form a government to get done some business.

Loyal Flemish Defend King

Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever has accused the King of being responsible for holding his party back in the formation of a government and giving them no "opportunities" -the royal policy to ignore again. However, loyal Flemish parties like the Christian democrats and liberals have defended the King and even the socialist party said the nationalists should just ignore the King if he ignores them and take the initiative themselves rather than trying to blame the King for their troubles. Story at Flanders News.

Support for the King

This weekend Mad Monarchist mentioned the book put out by anti-Belgian journalists in an effort to discredit the King by revealing confidential discussions between him and leading political figures, along with some accusations the palace has said is completely false. Of course, this infuriates me as people who want to destroy Belgium focus on bringing down the monarchie which is the one thing (and the King the one person) who is above regions and unites all people. However, I have found out that things are not so bad as they look so we can be given hope by that. There are people in politics today who have voiced their support for the King and his role in national life, defending him against those mouthing these secrets to ruin his ability to do his job and keep Belgium together.

MR Chairman Charles Michel said, "For the MR (Mouvement Réformateur) the colloque singulier is holy" and he also said it was "unresponsible" for people to infringe on the operation of the democratic institutions by robbing the King of his ability to discuss in confidence all the issues of the day.

Parti Socialiste Chairman Elio di Rupo also said that the colloque singulier is essential for confidence between the King and the leaders of the political parties and that people have to have respect for all the national institutions, including the monarchie and the King.

Chairwoman Joëlle Milquet of the CDH (Centre Démocrate Humaniste) also appealed for respect to the position of the King, saying, "This must stop. It can not go on this way. In politics there are basic rules, despite the generations or the political colours". She also said that it is her rule never to discuss with journalists what she has talked about with the King and the Palace Royal.

François Delpérée, constitutional specialist, also talked about the fields of culture, economy, politics and science that the King deals with. He says, "It is usual that these contacts find place in discretion. It happens that the King receives persons in audience and than he must feel free to say what he wants to say without the danger to read his words in the newspapers, the next day".

Finally, a statement from the Green Party said, "It is essential to allow the head of state to fulfill his role in all serenity. Infringement of the colloque singulier in this context forms a very problematic erosion of the royal function and can also be difficulting the opportunities to find a way out from institutional impasses".

So, of course, I am very upset by this disorder and shameful effort to denigrate the Crown but I am also encouraged to see the political leadership of such various parties (some notable by their absence) speaking up for the King and his essential place in Belgian government.

Vive l'roi!
Leve de koning!

The King and Queen in Rome

 The King and Queen gather with all the others for the beatification of Pope John Paul II. You can see below, the non-government was also represented. From the photos there seemed to be many royals present for the great event. I noticed Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Spain as well as the Belgian King and Queen. So, a good showing of the Catholic dynasties of Europe.

Here is the King and Queen having a chat before the ceremony with the colorful Berlusconi.

King Albert Still Thinks Things are Funny

SM King Albert thinks things are funny also in Germany. Makes me smile every time to see the king laughing.

Coburgs and Wittelsbachs

The King and Queen with the Duke Franz of Bavaria