Merely failing a basic task of government — this time Belgium at least Belgium has a government. Recall how many years out of the past two plus decades that they had only a series of caretaker governments because they couldn’t manage to elect one.
[AnNahar] Belgium's King Philippe on Friday rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Bart De Wever and sent him and the governing coalition back to work on a long-running crisis over the country's budget.
De Wever had handed in his resignation on Monday after budget talks broke down. But the king, who oversees the formation of national governments, said he was "withholding his decision" on whether to approve.
Don’t let him escape the responsibility, your majesty.
The king consulted coalition party leaders throughout the week. "All of them reaffirmed their determination to reach an agreement on a sound budgetary path for the next three years," the Royal Palace said in a statement.
The leaders agreed to act responsibly in a spirit of compromise, it said.
"Based on these discussions, the King decided to reject the prime minister's resignation and asked him to resume budget negotiations immediately," the statement said. De Wever will report back to the King on Nov. 16.
De Wever, a conservative Phlegmish nationalist, took office determined to tackle heavily indebted Belgium's budget problems, but he has so far failed to win the support of the other members of his five-party government for his proposals.
Some commentators suggested his attempt to quit was a political maneuver aimed at forcing a deal. De Wever, who took office in February 2025, is struggling to broker an agreement on the 2027 budget before Dec. 31.
Belgium is one of the most heavily indebted countries in the 27-nation European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... , along with La Belle France and Italia. Its debt load had already been mounting for years, but the COVID pandemic and an energy crisis made things worse.
The European Commission has forecast Belgium's debt to rise to 110% of its gross domestic product this year. The interest accumulating on that debt also poses a major challenge at a time when the government wants to boost defense spending.
The government crisis comes against a backdrop of growing student protests in the country and frequent strikes, including several "national action days" led by unions.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Kristina Ismagilova
[Regnum] The long-running conflict between Polish President Karol Nawrocki and the government of the republic eventually led to a high-profile crisis surrounding the Constitutional Tribunal, which one side controlled for many years while the other refused to recognize.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk's attempt to seize government control of the tribunal was declared by opponents to be an attempted coup and caused chaos in the country.
Now—immediately following his failed "coup" and the debacle at the National Security Council meeting—Tusk has turned his attention to suspicious "men with flashlights" on the Russian border. This, naturally, has prompted calls for a mobilization of forces to prevent possible provocations.
However, the border service clarified that several people with flashlights were on the Russian side, and no one attempted to cross the border. Tusk himself later also admitted that it was impossible to determine their intentions. This was forced to be acknowledged after criticism on social media: he was accused of knowing about such "threats" and then destabilizing the situation in the country.
At the same government meeting, Tusk linked the escalation around the Constitutional Tribunal to Russia's activities and an "army of Russian bots," mentioned "pro-Russian politicians," and placed some responsibility for the escalation on the opposition and the president.
The structure is convenient, albeit hackneyed: the debate over the government's powers moves into the realm of national security, where the opponent is no longer required to prove his case, but to confirm his trustworthiness.
However, the events of recent days demonstrate the limits of this tactic. Against the backdrop of the National Security Council meeting and regional protests, the ground beneath the prime minister is truly heating up.
Not because the cabinet is already doomed, but because Tusk must simultaneously prove the legitimacy of his actions, maintain the political initiative, and retreat where continuing the conflict threatens consequences that cannot be explained by “Russian bots.”
ADVICE WITHOUT RECONCILIATION
The National Security Council meeting on November 3rd ended neither with Tusk's capitulation nor with reconciliation between the two centers of power. During the public session, President Nawrocki held Tusk personally responsible for the events of October 30th, accusing the government of an illegal attempt to replace the leadership of the Constitutional Tribunal under police cover.
The President demanded an end to actions he considers illegal, citing the approaching Independence Day on November 11, even before the holiday week begins.
In other words, there's no talk yet of a constitutional mechanism for removing the prime minister. Instead, measures are being used to formally force him to either yield or demonstratively ignore the head of state's demands.
Tusk, for his part, did not abandon his commitment to recognizing the judges elected by the Sejm (parliament) and the need to ensure their employment. Therefore, there is no basis for claiming that he abandoned the Constitutional Tribunal at the Security Council. The prime minister retreated on another point: after an open confrontation, he proposed changing the format and moving to a personal discussion.
A closed conversation is, in itself, a valid political tool. It would be odd to demand that the president and prime minister resolve all their differences exclusively in front of cameras. The question is: what exactly is being proposed for agreement and what will remain unchanged after the meeting.
Tusk has several potential objectives here. The first is to reduce the risk of further clashes around the tribunal. The second is to prevent Nawrocki from establishing himself as the sole politician offering a solution. The third is to move the dispute from the public sphere, where every police action becomes a separate accusation, to negotiations whose content can be explained independently by the parties.
The offer to talk, therefore, cannot be automatically considered either capitulation or a sign of goodwill. It simply changes the prime minister's position: the president's refusal can be portrayed as an unwillingness to reduce tensions, while acceptance can be seen as an acknowledgement of the need to discuss the situation with the government. It follows that Tusk will have an additional argument even before the meeting begins.
In right-wing circles close to President Nawrocki, warnings have emerged that Tusk could repeat the tactics he used during his conflict with the late Polish leader Lech Kaczynski : behind closed doors, there might be goodwill and a search for common ground, but after appearing before journalists, a return to a harsh public attack.
For Navrotsky, the main risk is failing to win over his interlocutor, after which he might agree to ease the pressure. Then the government will gain time by continuing to act in the tribunal, and the president will have to explain to his own supporters exactly what was achieved.
But the opposite risk also exists. If Nawrocki rejects any discussion, Tusk will have the opportunity to portray him as someone who seeks conflict more than a solution. Therefore, the most rational option for the president is not to boycott the meeting, but to separate personal contact from political concessions.
Tusk seems to be already making advances to the presidential palace: he recently signed a countersignature to the appointment of new members of the board of the National Bank of Poland, passing off his capitulation as "statesmanship for the sake of the stability of the zloty."
The prime minister had been refusing to do so since May, when he returned the appointment documents for four board members to Nawrocki's office. In October, the president resubmitted them. And now, more than six months later, as the term of National Bank Vice President Adam Lipiński expired , Tusk capitulated.
While those at the top are discussing reducing tensions, below the opposition is expanding the geography of the confrontation.
On November 4, several hundred people gathered in Rzeszów in front of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Office in support of Nawrocki. Among the participants were members of parliament and regional representatives of the Law and Justice party. In Opole, opponents of the government's actions held a rally on November 3. Further rallies were announced in Olsztyn and Lublin.
Calling this a regional uprising would be an exaggeration, but Tusk is uncomfortable with something else. Local organizers, venues, and new regular participants are being drawn into what could have been another showdown between Warsaw politicians.
To maintain the conflict, the opposition no longer needs to gather everyone in front of one building in the capital every time.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
The attempted "blitzkrieg" at the Constitutional Tribunal fizzled, and the retreat over the National Bank confirmed that the government cannot continue to mount an open institutional battering ram indefinitely—the state machine risks collapsing.
At the same time, the active mobilization of the opposition, especially outside the capital, literally ruins the prime minister's scenario for a quick victory. Now, any attempt at forceful pressure will mobilize not only the capital's deputies, but also all voters of right-wing parties from Podkarpackie to Opole.
A personal meeting between Tusk and Nawrocki will most likely take place, but will only result in a ceasefire without any real compromise.
The Prime Minister desperately needs to calm the tension by November 11th, so that the traditional Independence March in Warsaw doesn't turn into a half-million-strong rally calling for the immediate resignation of his cabinet.
But once the holiday week is over, the conflict could flare up again. And perhaps the most dangerous thing about this situation is that it cannot be resolved within the existing framework: the wheels of government in Poland are too obviously turning in opposite directions.
The country is gradually entering a protracted state of institutional paralysis, from which there are only two practical exits: either a complete collapse of the constitutional system through emergency measures, or an early reboot of the Sejm, when voters will have to decide whose baton is more legitimate.
You do that, you great fool. And may you thoroughly enjoy the predictable outcome.
[AnNahar] Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has unveiled a budget aimed at making Canada less dependent on the United States as President Donald Trump ...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons... 's trade war reshapes the allies' economic relationship.
The budget, titled "Masters of Our Destiny," proposes $142.1 billion Canadian (US$101.6 billion) multiyear spending and tax breaks, including incentives to attract investment and billions for energy, infrastructure and culture.
The government projects spending of $603 billion Canadian (US$431 billion) and a $62.3 billion Canadian (US$44.5 billion) deficit for 2026-27, $3 billion Canadian (US$2.1 billion) less than forecast in April.
Canada's combined federal, provincial and local government deficits amount to 2.5% of its economy, compared with 8.5% in the United States, according to International Monetary Fund figures cited in the budget.
"The United States is upending global trade," the budget declares.
It comes two days after Democrats ...every time you hear the phrase white people, white supremacy,white anything but paint, you're listening to a Democrat. Ask him/her/it to reimagine something for you; they do that a lot, though not well. They can hear a dog whistle a mile or two away. They invented the spoils system and Tammany Hall, and inspired the addition of the word (Thomas) Nasty to the English language. They want to stop continental drift and repeal the law of unintended side effects... gained control of the U.S. Congress in midterm elections, weakening Trump's political position as the countries pursue a possible trade agreement.
The government expects Trump's trade war to slow economic growth late this year and early next year, with the budget forecasting growth of just 1% in 2026 and 1.7% in 2027.
A previously announced tax incentive would allow businesses to immediately deduct qualifying investments, reducing Canada's effective tax rate on new investment to 6.4%, less than half the comparable U.S. rate. The measure is estimated to cost $36 billion Canadian (US$25.7 billion) over five years.
Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, aims to double exports outside the United States by 2035 while forging closer ties with Europa ...the land mass occupying the space between the English Channel and the Urals, also known as Moslem Lebensraum... and Asia.
The budget advances plans for Canada's first national sovereign wealth fund, a $25 billion Canadian (US$17.9 billion) initiative to invest in Canadian companies and major projects.
It outlines $7.7 billion Canadian (US$5.5 billion) to strengthen Canada's defense industry, with a goal of awarding 70% of military contracts to Canadian firms. Canada says it is on track to meet NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... 's target of spending 5% of GDP on defense and security by 2035, though the budget does not fully account for the cost.
Canada walked away from trade negotiations in August over U.S. demands that Carney said threatened Canadian illusory sovereignty and cultural protections.
El-Sayed is the perfect example of why people wanted new leadership and are already regretting what they got.
Guy just gets elected in Michigan and his first 48 hours is:
Backstab Schumer on national TV - the same Schumer who wrote him checks after he beat Haley Stevens
Demand "new leadership" but his big idea is Chris Van Hollen - a 60-year-old career politician from Maryland who has been in the Senate since 2017 and wants to run for President. That's not new generation, that's swapping one swamp creature for another.
Then turn around and say he agrees with Trump on cutting Israel aid so he can play moderate for Michigan cameras, while his actual voting record is going to be straight Squad.
This is not new leadership. This is opportunism.
He didn't win Michigan because Michigan wants open borders and defund-police judges. He won because national turnout was 124M and Democrats flooded the zone with early ballots in every county - 2,156 counties moved left vs 2024, even in Texas border counties that voted Trump 51-52% last year.
Now he thinks that means Michigan wants radical change? Michigan wants jobs at the plants, not H1B mills at U-M. Michigan wants secure borders, not Van Hollen-style amnesty. Michigan wants someone who will fight for Michigan, not audition for Morning Joe and TODAY to become the next national progressive star.
"No Schumer" shouldn't mean "replace Schumer with someone even further left." If that's the new generation, Michigan got scammed.
El-Sayed is the perfect example of why people wanted new leadership and are already regretting what they got.
Guy just gets elected in Michigan and his first 48 hours is:
Backstab Schumer on national TV - the same Schumer who wrote him checks after he beat Haley Stevens
Demand "new leadership" but his big idea is Chris Van Hollen - a 60-year-old career politician from Maryland who has been in the Senate since 2017 and wants to run for President. That's not new generation, that's swapping one swamp creature for another.
Then turn around and say he agrees with Trump on cutting Israel aid so he can play moderate for Michigan cameras, while his actual voting record is going to be straight Squad.
This is not new leadership. This is opportunism.
He didn't win Michigan because Michigan wants open borders and defund-police judges. He won because national turnout was 124M and Democrats flooded the zone with early ballots in every county - 2,156 counties moved left vs 2024, even in Texas border counties that voted Trump 51-52% last year.
Now he thinks that means Michigan wants radical change? Michigan wants jobs at the plants, not H1B mills at U-M. Michigan wants secure borders, not Van Hollen-style amnesty. Michigan wants someone who will fight for Michigan, not audition for Morning Joe and TODAY to become the next national progressive star.
"No Schumer" shouldn't mean "replace Schumer with someone even further left." If that's the new generation, Michigan got scammed.
[KhaamaPress] Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed says protecting Jewish Americans is as important as protecting his own children, while opposing US taxpayer-funded military assistance to Israel.
Trying to separate American Jews from the roots of Judaism in hope of destroying the Jews first in Israel, then in America. Ugh.
In an interview with CNN, El-Sayed said Jewish families should be able to send their children to schools and synagogues without fear of hatred or violence. Drawing on his own experience of facing hostility because of his Muslim faith, he said no religious community should feel unsafe.
“I’m for love and against hate,” he said, adding that Palestinian and Jewish children deserve equal protection and respect. Mediaite
Islam means peace through surrender. Pious Moslems are admonished not to be friends with Jews or Christians, and Mr. El-Sayed is proud of being a being a pious Moslem. Given that, what does protecting American Jews mean to him?
El-Sayed said much of the criticism directed at him during his Senate campaign stemmed from his opposition to US military aid to Israel. He rejected claims that criticising Israeli government policies amounted to hostility towards Jewish people.
Of course criticizing Israeli government policies is not ipso facto hostility toward Jews — only idiots claim otherwise. Insisting local Jews be punished for Israel’s existence and actions is hostility toward Jews, though. Holding Israel to a separate standard than other countries is also a sign of Jew-hatred. Mr. El-Sayed is already past that point.
“I don’t believe our tax dollars should be spent on weapons and military equipment that are used to do the worst things to Palestinian children,” he said.
El-Sayed’s position on military assistance was a major issue during his campaign. He has argued that US taxpayers’ money should not fund military operations abroad, particularly those that result in civilian casualties.
Time to cut Egypt off the Uncle Sugar teat, then, applying that principle beyond just the Jewish State. When your Egyptian relatives complain, my dear, remind them that it was your idea, mkay?
After defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s November 3 Senate election, El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. He is due to take office in January 2027.
Seminole County election officials just discovered a memory card full of uncounted Election Day ballots after noticing 388 more voters had checked in than ballots that were reported.
Once those votes were uploaded, Republican incumbent Gerald Greene flipped State House District 154. He now leads Democrat Harry James by 262 votes after trailing by 58.
If the results are certified by Monday, Democrats’ newly won House majority shrinks to 92 seats in the 180-member chamber — one above the 91 needed for control. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is investigating how the ballots were overlooked in the first place.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
...every time you hear the phrase 
