Deadlock over budget forces cancellation of State of the Union
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A single 'no' in the federal government’s core committee was enough to collapse budget negotiations. With two days left until the deadline, the 'State of the Union' address scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled; it is difficult to report on the state of a union that cannot agree on a balance sheet.
The failure has left Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the Reformist Movement, described as a pariah after the fruitless talks. While the cabinet stalls on the numbers, it has also begun debating the misuse of long-term sick benefits, attempting to weigh fiscal leaks against the suffering of those who rely on them.
The only thing currently moving ahead of schedule is the infrastructure. In Bertem, 2,000 people gathered to watch a 4,000-ton steel arch bridge being maneuvered into place over the E40 highway. The road is expected to reopen shortly, even if the government does not.