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It's All Greek to Miss Belgium

Beauty queen is no Dutch treat; caretaker PM tries to mend government

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 17, 2007 2:28 PM CST

(Newser) – The new Miss Belgium sparked fury in Flanders this weekend with her admission that she doesn't speak Dutch, AFP reports. In a country already torn over the Flemish-French conflict that's derailed the government for months, 20-year-old Alizee Poulicek's attempt to speak the language of the country's majority was met with boos and mockery—but she still emerged victorious.

Six months after June's inconclusive elections, the caretaker PM agreed today to try mending the crisis with a stopgap government, the BBC reports. "In light of the gravity of the situation that the country is in I have accepted the mission,'' Guy Verhofstadt said. The crisis has left Belgium without a 2008 budget and may require a 2.3% tightening of the country's gross domestic product, Bloomberg reports.

King Albert II of Belgium, left, shakes hands and shares a few words with some World War II veterans at the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Brussels, Sunday Nov. 11, 2007, on Armistice Day, commemorating... (Associated Press)

(Getty Images)

In this photograph released by the Miss Belgium organization, Newly crowned Miss Belgium Alizee Poulicek, center, stands with runner ups during the Miss Belgium contest in Antwerp, Belgium, Saturday Dec.... (Associated Press)

Belgium's outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt speaks in Brussels in this Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 file photo. Outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt was to consult with King Albert on Monday Dec.... (Associated Press)

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It's All Greek to Miss Belgium

Beauty queen is no Dutch treat; caretaker PM tries to mend government

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Belgium Breaks Impasse, Forms New Govt.

Deal reached after 9-month crisis that almost split the nation

A Belgian Government, at Last

Late-night deal puts defeated PM in charge of interim coalition

Eurozone Economy Shrinks

Nine of 17 member states post a fall

Belgium Charges 9 After Terror Raids

Authorities cite plot against unknown Belgian target

Greeks Nab Parcel Bomb Addressed to Sarkozy

Others addressed to various embassies; no al-Qaeda link seen

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It's All Greek to Miss Belgium

Beauty queen is no Dutch treat; caretaker PM tries to mend government

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Belgium • Netherlands • beauty pageant • language • Flanders • Guy Verhofstadt • Alizee Poulicek

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Belgium Breaks Impasse, Forms New Govt.

Deal reached after 9-month crisis that almost split the nation

A Belgian Government, at Last

Late-night deal puts defeated PM in charge of interim coalition

Eurozone Economy Shrinks

Nine of 17 member states post a fall

Belgium Charges 9 After Terror Raids

Authorities cite plot against unknown Belgian target

Greeks Nab Parcel Bomb Addressed to Sarkozy

Others addressed to various embassies; no al-Qaeda link seen

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?