Res Publica |
|
Article | Belgian politics in 1992 |
Authors | Ivan Cottenier |
DOI | 10.5553/RP/048647001993035003363 |
Show PDF Abstract Statistics Citation |
This article has been viewed times. |
This article been downloaded 0 times. |
Ivan Cottenier, "Belgian politics in 1992", Res Publica, 3-4, (1993):363-387
After unsuccessful attempts to form Liberal-Socialist and tripartite cabinets, another center-left cabinet was made. It was the first cabinet headed by Flemish Christian-Democratjean-Luc Dehaene. Not commanding a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the constitutional reform agenda was referred to a community-to-community dialogue which resulted in an overall constitutional reform agreement concluded in the fall. Not much action was taken on the budget deficit, and the cabinet's reliance on new taxes led to tension inside the coalition, with the CVP insisting on additional spending cuts. Labor and management reached agreement on a 1993-94 national inter-industry accord for the private sector. The cabinet decided to abolish conscription, and the armed farces were involved in UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions in ex-Yugoslavia and Somalia. In Parliament, there was a large majority in favor of the Maastricht Treaty. |