This Week in eBelgium, Day 1017

Day 1,017, 00:15 • Published in Belgium USA • by MaryamQ
Hello, eBelgians,

This week we have experienced a congressional election with some very interesting results and are about to have a presidential election with some very interesting choices.

First, for the congressional election, the breakdown is as follows::

Brussels
MaryamQ, Res Belgica, 6 votes
Palodigan, The Free Belgium Party, 5 votes
Jofroi, Belgium for Belgians, 4 votes
Jacob van Artevelde, Res Belgica, 4 votes
Habraka Abrivianius, Res Belgica, 3 votes
Theneka, Belgian Communist Party, 3 votes
IP_Kevin, The Free Belgium Party, 3 votes
A Vegan, Belgian Communist Party, 3 votes
wolf-stone, Belgium for Belgians, 3 votes

Wild cards
Kelo-san, Belgium for Belgians, 2 votes
oXyTeC, Belgium for Belgians, 2 votes
Sandy x3, Belgium for Belgians, 2 votes

Not qualified
NLSP, Belgian Autocracy Party, 2 votes
Kabouter_wesley, The Free Belgium Party, 2 votes
Olivier De Commogne, The Free Belgium Party, 2 votes
Mick Somatoze, Belgian Communist Party, 1 vote
Critically, Belgian Communist Party, 1 vote
Sarga, Belgium for Belgians, 1 vote

Flanders
boyty, The Free Belgium Party, 7 votes
wazowzky, Belgium for Belgians, 4 votes
Velitia, Belgium for Belgians, 4 votes
Archoz, Belgium for Belgians, 3 votes
Jorge44842, The Free Belgium Party, 3 votes
Mike Wooldridge, Res Belgica, 2 votes
Den Geus, Belgian Autocracy Party, 2 votes,
Rithulme, Res Belgica, 1 vote
Beli Jesen, Belgian Communist Party, 1 vote

Not qualified
Max Wellbrock-Talley, Belgian Communist Party, 1 vote
Sauvageon, Belgian Communist Part, 1 vote

Wallonia
ThomasRed, Belgium for Belgians, 4 votes
Ray Captain, Belgian Autocracy Party, 2 votes
stonix, Res Belgica, 2 votes
Sammy Tanghe, Res Belgica, 2 votes
VeganSoldier, Belgian Communist Party, 2 votes
Blackshark, Belgium for Belgians, 1 vote
Kylero, Belgian Communist Party, 1 vote
ego_zero, Belgium for Belgians, 1 vote
Helviro, Res Belgica, 1 vote

Not qualified
Ernest Bogdansson, Belgian Communist Party, 1 vote
Goran73, Belgium for Belgians, 1 vote
M. Leviathin, Belgian Autocracy Party, 0 votes
Marcel-Vendeur-de-glace, Belgian Communist Party, 0 votes

There are a couple of interesting developments here, in my opinion. First, I note that the total number of votes in this election was only 96, fewer than last month, in which activity was so low that we lacked enough candidates to fill all the available seats, allowing those with 0 votes to become members of Congress. This made an average of a little under 2.3 votes per candidate. With a slate of 18 candidates, there were only 49 votes or 2.7 per candidate cast in Brussels, 29 votes with 11 candidates or 2.6 per candidate in Flanders, and 18 votes with 13 candidates or 1.4 per candidate in Wallonia. The second thing I notice is that, while both Belgium for Belgians and The Free Belgium Party had more total votes, Res Belgica was the only party to get its entire slate of 8 candidates elected, and the Belgian Communist Party made significant gains, with 5 of its candidates elected out of a very ambitious slate of 11 candidates. The Belgian Autocracy Party made the weakest showing, with only 6 votes split among 4 candidates, only 2 of whom were elected.

Since the election, there have also been some interesting developments in congressional sign-ins, where the newly elected Congress members gain entry into the national forum areas for debate and voting. Of The Free Belgium Party's 4 representatives, only 2 have signed in, and one of those has already resigned his seat and left the country. Of Res Belgica's 8, all have signed in. Of Belgium for Belgians' 11, 10 have signed in (an improvement from recent months on which they are to be congratulated). Of the Belgian Communist Party's 5, 3 have signed in, and of the Belgian Autocracy Party's 2, 1 has signed in. Do you know where your Congress member is and what he or she is doing?

Finally, I would like just to make a brief comment about the upcoming election for country president. We have 2 candidates with quite different ideas about how to play the game and how to move our country forward. I have submitted identical lists of questions to both candidates and hope to have their answers to share with you in this paper before election day to help you make an informed decision. I have promised them I will not edit or comment on their answers, so what you see here will be exactly what each of them wants to share about himself and his goals.
Until then, stay healthy and happy, and keep looking for Aldous!