Broker trying to end Belgium's world-record government stalemate offers to resign

“The government broker trying to end Belgium's world record government stalemate has offered to resign, plunging the negotiations to new depths.

The royal palace announced Monday that the king will consider the offer but reminded the six negotiating parties that the impasse at the 526-day-long talks needs to end soon to keep financial markets at bay.

Last month, Francophone socialist Elio Di Rupo clinched a breakthrough on a constitutional revision to grant more autonomy to Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone Wallonia.

But the talks are now stuck on the 2012 budget proposals. Di Rupo's Socialists have been unable to agree with the Dutch-speaking Liberals on additional taxation and austerity measures.”