BRUSSELS (AP) -- By the end of it all, Belgium's most popular politician pronounced himself satisfied. "Mission accomplished," he said.
Bart De Wever had not solved the dispute between Belgium's Dutch and French speakers, which has stalled the formation of a permanent government for almost seven months - the longest such crisis in the country's history. No, he had just survived his first round in the late-evening quiz show "The Very Smartest Human in the World," where he had excelled, among other things, in identifying a slew of actresses shown with their breasts accidentally exposed. Like much of the population, De Wever seems to be taking the political crisis in stride. Hours before the show aired late Wednesday De Wever's Flemish nationalist N-VA shot down the latest proposal to reform the constitution and set up a coalition government. There would for now be no end to the crisis that has prevented political progress ever since De Wever - a rotund historian with a penchant for Latin quotations - won elections on June 13. So a solution to the bickering between Belgium's 6 million Dutch-speaking Flemings and 4.5 million Francophone Wallonians will have to wait a bit longer. And international investors seeking a government in full control to reassurance that the country can control its finances will have to do without for now. But De Wever remained nonchalant. Asked how he'd found the time for a TV show, he quipped, "I had nothing better to do." Even though the program had been taped a week in advance, critics were scathing - saying he was a bit like Nero, the emperor who played his fiddle while Rome burned. The Francophone paper Le Soir complained Thursday that, while his party limited itself to a terse statement rejecting the latest reform proposal, "De Wever could only be seen on the set of the 'Very Smartest Human.'" He confidently advanced through another round in the quiz late Thursday, and with equal aplomb criticized those who had attacked his participation. He called it "a heap of rubbish" to charge he had been less than diligent because of the show. "I challenge you to find one meeting that was moved one minute because I played that game," he said on VRT network. He said the criticism felt "like a blow below the belt." Beyond the general knowledge questions, the show is known for risque jokes and bawdy comedians. De Wever, not to be outdone, gave graphic descriptions of singer Beyonce's curves on Wednesday. When asked how he recognized Jessica Simpson in the exposed-breast category, he replied, "I didn't directly look at her face, but the rest was recognizable." His performance had both fans and detractors. "When it comes to perception, it wasn't good to see he is playing the funny man while the country is grounded in crisis," said Prof. Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at Brussels University. That crisis seems likely to endure. For decades. Belgian politicians have turned compromises between Flanders and Wallonia into high political art. But positions in northern Flanders have hardened, bringing De Wever to the fore. The socialist PS party has long dominated the southern region of Wallonia, Belgium's rustbelt region, which is dependent on state funding as it tries to turn its economy around. Now, however, De Wever's N-VA has gained the support of the wealthier electorate in Flanders by arguing that only increasing autonomy can keep the region from having to fund its southern neighbors. "You get two different realities that are increasingly hard to reconcile," said Sinardet. On Thursday, the country's crisis mediator offered to resign after his latest proposals failed to get sufficient backing from some of the four Flemish and three Francophone parties that have been trying for months to set up a government. "We have fundamental questions" about the proposals, said De Wever, dashing hopes of immediate success. "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink," said mediator Johan vande Lanotte of the refusal of some parties, like De Wever's, to endorse the proposals. Talks could still drag on for weeks, and there is a chance new elections might be called. The caretaker government of Prime Minister Yves Leterme has led the nation since June. It has yet to hit major roadblocks and was even lauded for its six-month stint as president of the European Union in the second half of last year. Still, badly needed reform of the pension system and fresh measures to tackle the financial crisis have been delayed. Last month, the rating agency Standard & Poor's warned that Belgium may have its credit rating downgraded within six months because of the crisis. None of that has stopped De Wever from standing by his refusal to accept easy compromise and indulging his penchant for publicity. Two years ago, he appeared on the quiz show, which was then called "the Smartest Human in the World," and stayed on for ten sessions, reaching the final. "Ten times on a show that reaches up to 2 million people. That is a wet dream for every Flemish politician," Sinardet said, arguing that the show helped boost De Wever's popularity. Last year, the N-VA shot up to 27 seats in the 150-seat legislature, more than any other in the parliament. After his blistering start in this year's show, he could be adding to his popularity for many days to come. His second appearance is set for Thursday. © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Region
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