Frustrated Belgians march to demand a new government

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the Belgian capital yesterday in support of national unity and to demand that the rival political groupings finally form a coalition. The country has gone seven months without a government.

Organisers said the Brussels rally was also meant to promote solidarity between the country's Flemish and Walloon communities and to reject nationalism.

Police said between 20,000 and 30,000 people took part in the demonstration, called by a group of university students tired of the political deadlock.

Felix De Clerck, one of the organisers, said: "We're sending a clear message to the political leaders that we want them to form a government."

Thomas Decreus, another organiser, said: "We are sick and tired of the enduring political impasse."

He said the protest showed "the people can act where politicians fail", working together across the language barrier that cuts through Belgium.

• Left in political limbo

The demonstration - the result of a Facebook campaign under the banner "Shame. No government, great country" - was the second of its kind in just over three years. On 18 November, 2007, about 35,000 people marched through the capital angry about a political deadlock that had prevented the formation of a government for 161 days.

As in 2007, Sunday's protest led demonstrators to a vast stone arch in the Cinquentenaire park. The arch commemorates Belgium gaining independence from the Netherlands in 1830 .

Political parties representing Belgium's two communities, French- and Dutch-speaking, have been unable to form a coalition since parliamentary elections last June - a record period of deadlock in post-war Europe.

Politicians have been trying to broker a new constitution with increased regional autonomy for the six million Dutch-speaking Flemings and 4.5 million French-speaking Walloons.

The deadlock has sparked fear that Flanders could secede from the union formed in 1830.

Positions in Flanders have hardened over the years, bringing to the fore the centre-right N-VA nationalist party headed by Bart De Wever. He is negotiating on forming a government with the socialist PS party, the dominant party in Wallonia.

In a reference to Mr De Wever, several marchers carried pictures of cartoon character Bart Simpson with his face crossed out. Others carried signs saying "Separation? Not In Our Name," and "Less Bla-Bla, More Results."

Many carried umbrellas, hats, shawls and other items in the black, gold and red colours of the Belgian flag. "What do we want? We want a government," they chanted.

Since the elections, the country has been run by a caretaker government led by Prime Minister Yves Leterme.

But that government only has a limited remit and, as the euro struggles, international investors are looking unkindly at the political stalemate that prevents the nation taking decisive action.