Belgium takes a world record – in political dysfunction

Belgium bested Iraq today for having the world's longest run without a functioning government. While the country faces potential partition, today Belgians threw a party. Paris Belgium today marks a dubious world record: 249 days of a nonfunctioning government. It has the honor of eclipsing the previous record-holder, Iraq. The standoff between French and Dutch-speaking political leaders dates to last June and has become so absurd and tragic-comic that all sides are briefly blowing off the tragedy part and protesting with comedy in a national party. Activists in Belgian cities laid out free chips, a robust French fry, and the...