Summer may be giving Belgium a wide berth but there's no escaping election season, with politicos of all shades vociferating about imminent catastrophe, turning points, and directing moral judgment towards their opponents.
It's a period all the more farcical in Belgium, where the outcome of June's elections will require the rivals of today to quickly drop their differences and demonstrate the compromise this country is famed for (it's over a decade old but Ed Miliband's mechanical refrain about putting aside the rhetoric and getting around the negotiating table resonates still). Then again, don't expect a new Federal Government to take shape quickly; these days it's almost a contest to see how long this can take.
For expats who now call Belgium home, there's a good chance you can go to the ballot box in June – if you are an EU citizen. But remember, your vote will be for Belgian MEPs so it will be worth tuning into what they have to say. In doing so, you might get a flavour of local affairs, perhaps even the regional disparities that colour Belgian discourse.
Then again, the coming weeks will be rife with hyperbole, appeals to common sense, and doubtless a few base insults to keep the discussion entertaining. The departure from the diplomatic tack that we are used to hearing from elected officials can be revealing and at times riveting, but not always a space for restraint and constructive dialogue.
Voters might even be told that their present malaise is the fault of plant "milk", boys wearing pink, or living within walking distance of shops and services. You'll hear all sorts if you look in funny places.
But for when it all gets a bit nutty and you need some sound reason to remind you how things work in this peculiar land, what were the big battles of the last legislature, and how things are likely to change after the elections, I heartily recommend the latest edition of The Brussels Times magazine, which came out this week. With in-depth interviews, explainers, and a dash of cultural coverage, it has all you need to really get the election thing, and learn why Belgium isn't as mad as you thought. Except for the next seven weeks.
Have you spotted the magazine? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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