BELGIUM

Belgium has just set what is believed to be a world record, namely 249 days without an agreement to form a Government. They took the record from Iraq, which prevaricated for most of last year as well. Iraq's agreement had to wait a further 40 days to get official approval, so perhaps Belgium hasn't got the record yet. However, judging from the remarks of the king's official mediator, who resigned recently after failing to achieve a breakthrough, no agreement is likely to turn up soon. I think the odds are still with Belgium.

I like Belgium. I lived in Brussels for 6 months in the mid-1980's, and met my wife there. People were very disparaging about Brussels, comparing it unfavourably with Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. I couldn't understand why they were so hostile.

There was Governmental paralysis back in the mid-1980's, so not much has changed in 25 years. Perhaps Belgium doesn't really need a Government. If true, that would be a record worth holding.

Walter Blotscher