Belgian Coalition Vocabulary (Notes)

Flashcards cover major Belgian government coalitions, their member groups, origins of their names/colors, and the interprofessional Group of Ten.

VIVALDI COALITION

A federal Belgian coalition of Liberals (Open VLD, MR), Socialists (Vooruit, PS), Greens (Groen, Ecolo), and Christian Democrats (CD&V); named after Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons to symbolize four ideologies.

SWEDISH COALITION

A Belgian coalition of Liberals (Open VLD, MR) and Nationalists (N-VA) with Christian Democrats (CD&V); named for the blue-and-yellow colors of the Swedish flag representing liberal and nationalist forces.

ARIZONA COALITION

A Belgian coalition including Christian Democrats (CD&V), Liberals (Open VLD, MR), Nationalists (N-VA), and Socialists (Vooruit, PS); named after the Arizona color symbolism (orange and yellow) indicating a diverse mix.

PURPLE-GREEN COALITION (RAINBOW COALITION)

Liberal Open VLD/MR + Socialists Vooruit/PS + Greens Groen/Ecolo; colors combine red (socialists) and blue (liberals) with green.

PURPLE-YELLOW COALITION

Liberal Open VLD/MR + Socialists Vooruit/PS + Nationalists N-VA; purple represents liberals+socialists and yellow represents nationalists.

BOURGONDIAN COALITION

Broad pragmatic coalition: CD&V, Open VLD, MR, N-VA, Vooruit, PS; named after the Burgundian Netherlands to imply wide, pragmatic collaboration.

KAMIKAZE COALITION

Liberal Open VLD/MR + Christian Democrats CD&V + Nationalists N-VA; excludes socialists and is seen as high-risk, especially in the south of Belgium.

TRIPARTITE (CLASSIC THREE-PARTY GOVERNMENT)

A traditional government coalition of Christian Democrats (CD&V), Liberals (Open VLD, MR), and Socialists (Vooruit, PS).

OLIVIER COALITION

Coalition of Socialists Vooruit/PS, Greens Groen/Ecolo, and Christian Democrats CD&V; named for the olive-green color symbolizing red (socialists) + green (ecologists) + orange (christians).

VLAAMSE REGERING (JAMBON I – SWEDISH)

Flemish government coalition of N-VA (nationalists), CD&V (christian democrats), and Open VLD (liberals); also called Swedish due to color symbolism (blue and yellow).

GROUP OF TEN (IPA)

Interprofessional agreement negotiated every two years in the Group of Ten; includes 5 employer representatives (VBO, Unizo, UCM, Boerenbond, plus others) and 5 union representatives (ABVV, ACV, ACLVB); the federal government often participates as a third partner, making 10 (or 11) participants.