38:
526:(PS) in French-speaking Belgium. Nationally the two parties were almost even with 27 seats for the N-VA and 26 for the PS, the remaining seats being split between ten other parties. Until 541 days after the elections, no agreement could be reached among the parties on a coalition to form a new government and during that period the country continued to be governed by an interim government. On 6 December 2011 the
685:, also suggested to incorporate Wallonia into Germany instead of France if the crisis in Belgium were to escalate. Although over 71,000 people on the Walloon-German border speak German as their first language, the vast majority of Walloons are French speakers. Thus arises the possibility that, if Wallonia had become part of France, the German-speaking towns might have been absorbed by Germany.
189:, the topics of public debt, deficit cuts and socio-economic reform were added to the debate, with most Flemish parties in favour of finding money by strongly reducing spending, whilst the proposals supported by most French-speaking parties also included a significant raise in taxes. The crisis came to an end in December 2011 with the inauguration of a
361:
that would last until 23 March 2008, when
Leterme would take over. Belgium's political uncertainty intensified when Yves Leterme was hospitalised in February 2008. He remained in the hospital for several days but it was soon made clear that his health would not prevent him from assuming premiership.
328:
coalition was proposed. Because of the differing views on the need for a state reform on both sides of the language border, it took the parties 196 days, i.e. over 6 months, following the election, to form an interim government. That set a record as the longest
Belgian government formation, one that
428:
angered the Dutch-speaking politicians with controversial statements and so sparked a crisis within the
Flemish government. On 21 September 2008, the N-VA withdrew its parliamentary support for the federal government, saying that the 15-month-long negotiations had failed to result in state reform.
247:
won the elections in French-speaking
Belgium. Due to the major differences between the two winning parties on a community and social-economic level, government negotiations and formation took a total of 541 days, breaking the world government formation record of 249 days, previously set by Iraq in
365:
A first preliminary deal was reached on 25 February 2008. It was agreed that some powers over industrial policy and housing would be transferred from the federal government to the regions. Measures would also be taken to strengthen inter-region cooperation; a second package of devolution changes
384:
was sworn in on 20 March 2008. In the late hours of 14 July 2008, after months of negotiations regarding the constitutional reform and electoral arrondissement
Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde failed and with the deadline of 15 July 2008 within reach, Leterme offered the resignation of his cabinet to
436:
On 19 December 2008, Leterme again offered the resignation of the government to the king, who accepted the offer on 22 December. The resignation was offered after news broke out that the government had tried to intervene in the verdict of the Fortis case.
544:
The various political parties had not succeeded in forming a new government for 541 days, which broke the 2007 record of the longest period without a government. During that period several people had made failed attempts to create an agreement, until
193:
which agreed on partition of the BHV district and on policies aimed at tackling the economic downturn. The country's continuing linguistic divide played a large part in the crisis. Several times during the period
Belgium was threatened to be
424:), to establish how to start talks about institutional reform. They reported back to the King on 19 September 2008 with a one-page report so that neither of the communities would back out of the negotiations. Only a few hours later,
213:, who supported a wide-reaching state reform and the immediate split of BHV. After 194 days of often heated negotiations, parties finally succeeded in forming a new government. In December 2008, another crisis related to the
831:
389:. After a series of consultations, King Albert II decided to reject Prime Minister Leterme's resignation on 17 July. The royal palace said that the King had asked two senior French-speaking politicians,
295:, and became the largest political formation in Belgium, thus leading the coalition talks for a new government. The list campaigned heavily on the need for a far-reaching reform of the Belgian state.
731:
429:
The withdrawal of support plunged the country into another crisis. Under pressure of the socialist and liberal coalition partners, the only N-VA minister in the
Flemish government (
1215:
Albalate, Daniel; Bel, Germà (2019). "Do government formation deadlocks really damage economic growth? Evidence from history's longest period of government formation impasse".
248:
2010 as well as the ten months record set by
Lebanon in 2014. On 13 September 2011 it was reported that Leterme aimed to take up a new job as deputy secretary general of the
585:
1115:
459:, to consult the various political parties and pave the way to a new "emergency" cabinet. The general consensus is that a government should run until the regional and
923:
821:
17:
1099:
714:
1081:
897:
741:
853:
460:
1053:
1005:
539:
315:
95:
62:
228:-led government brought a brief period of fragile stability, but ended when Van Rompuy left his office to become the first full-term
763:
178:
1167:
577:
451:
After the resignation of
Leterme and his cabinet, the King consulted various dignitaries and party leaders. He then appointed
291:(N-VA) received an increased share of the vote from the previous election, held in 2003. The CD&V/N-VA list was headed by
1319:
1145:
421:
303:
1119:
650:
Towards the end of July 2011, as government formation had been dragging on for over a year, party leaders of the separatist
961:
413:
931:
494:
229:
618:
284:
515:
278:
186:
390:
90:
57:
1096:
711:
405:
655:
598:
393:
252:
in 2012, although that it seemed to be unlikely at that time that he'd leave the post as the head of the
206:
182:
1339:
567:
523:
456:
338:
244:
105:
67:
1078:
1314:
1304:
632:
471:
the task of forming a new government, which would include the current ruling parties. Van Rompuy and
344:
261:
218:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1309:
1299:
693:
A 2019 study found that the government formation deadlock did not harm economic growth in
Belgium.
678:
suggests that around half of Walloons and around 66% of French Republic citizens favour this plan.
663:
498:
205:
The crisis broke out in the summer of 2007, following the electoral victory of the alliance of the
166:
119:
608:
397:
299:
901:
472:
162:
129:
764:"Belgian Political Crisis and Talk of Linguistic Divisions Continue | DW | 02.10.2007"
1189:
983:
484:
446:
233:
154:
83:
78:
1057:
1009:
463:
in June 2009 or, if possible, until the next federal election in 2011. On 28 December, King
645:
557:
527:
519:
464:
386:
375:
354:
351:
288:
256:
before the end of the year. However, a new government was sworn in on 6 December 2011 with
253:
240:
210:
195:
124:
73:
8:
826:
594:
417:
401:
321:
134:
783:
1250:
409:
358:
190:
139:
100:
1271:
1254:
1242:
671:
468:
225:
170:
1232:
1224:
1141:
798:
452:
214:
199:
639:
581:
1103:
1085:
718:
659:
604:
430:
425:
347:
1277:
1031:
953:
768:
217:, erupted, again destabilising the country and resulting in the resignation of
1293:
1246:
682:
651:
573:
553:
239:
New elections were held in June 2010, where the separatist and conservative
165:, and in the continued existence of the controversial electoral district of
563:
546:
490:
381:
292:
257:
221:
1116:"Wilfried Martens, l'" explorateur " à la recherche d'une sortie de crise"
549:
finally succeeded (in chronological order and all appointed by the King):
614:
236:
fell in April 2010 over the lack of progress on resolving the BHV issue.
1237:
1228:
325:
174:
654:(which does not have any seats in parliament) have had talks with the
675:
625:
872:
736:
667:
1283:
927:
158:
37:
873:"Belgian officials play down crisis, as caretaker PM opts to go"
522:(N-VA) winning most votes in the Flemish-speaking areas and the
666:. These talks resulted in that, in the event of the split with
640:
Provisions and speculation on the possible partition of Belgium
1190:"Belgischer Minister würde Wallonie an Deutschland angliedern"
185:
is generally in favour of retaining the status quo. After the
1054:"deredactie.be - "Onderhandelen over grote staatshervorming""
380:
An official coalition agreement was signed on 18 March 2008.
822:"Belgium breaks Iraq's 249-day record without a government"
249:
591:
De Wever as clarificator: 8 October 2010 – 18 October 2010
493:(who had replaced Van Rompuy again when Van Rompuy became
243:
won a landslide victory in Flanders, while the pro-unity
177:
to the communities and regions, and the splitting of the
1142:"'Grow a beard for Belgium' appeal by actor Poelvoorde"
504:
267:
1168:"Better no concessions to Flanders 67% Walloons find"
854:"Lebanon announces government of 'national interest'"
732:"Belgian government sworn in, ending 18-month crisis"
588:; PS) as mediators: 4 September 2010 – 5 October 2010
27:
2007–2011 period of political instability in Belgium
900:. FlandersNews.be. 6 December 2011. Archived from
570:) as pre-formateur: 9 July 2010 – 3 September 2010
1291:
1286:website on the crisis related to the Fortis case
611:) as informateur: 2 February 2011 – 1 March 2011
601:) as mediator: 21 October 2010 – 26 January 2011
161:, which was rooted in the differing opinions on
455:, a former prime minister and president of the
366:would then be passed before the summer recess.
1008:. Deredactie.be. 18 July 2008. Archived from
796:
681:The Belgian minister for Climate and Energy,
329:has since been broken by the 2010 formation.
153:was a period of tense communal relations and
560:) as informateur: 17 June 2010 – 8 July 2010
1214:
621:) as negotiator: 2 March 2011 – 12 May 2011
586:President of the Chamber of Representatives
518:was held on 13 June 2010, resulting in the
819:
1236:
898:"New government sworn in at Laken Castle"
813:
309:
1272:Overview of the mediators and formateurs
892:
890:
533:
298:In French-speaking Belgium, the liberal
283:Of the Flemish parties, the alliance of
173:are in general strongly in favour for a
870:
674:. A poll of the French daily newspaper
306:(PS), although the PS remained strong.
169:(BHV). Parties from the Dutch-speaking
14:
1292:
820:Waterfield, Bruno (17 February 2011).
540:2010–2011 Belgian government formation
509:
316:2007–2008 Belgian government formation
887:
871:Rettman, Andrew (14 September 2011).
1148:from the original on 13 January 2011
505:2010 federal elections and aftermath
489:On 24 April 2010, the government of
302:managed to defeat the long-dominant
272:
268:2007 federal elections and aftermath
181:BHV district, while French-speaking
1134:
1032:"Belgian PM's resignation rejected"
984:"'Wise men' strike devolution deal"
954:"Deal eases Belgian political woes"
475:were sworn in on 30 December 2008.
24:
930:. 14 February 2008. Archived from
834:from the original on 11 March 2011
784:"Belgium threatened with break-up"
721:Gazet van Antwerpen, 27 April 2010
332:
151:2007–2011 Belgian political crisis
43:2007–2011 Belgian political crisis
25:
1351:
1278:Belgian PM offers his resignation
1264:
964:from the original on 21 July 2008
799:"Parties and Elections in Europe"
740:. 6 December 2011. Archived from
670:, Wallonia could become the 28th
495:President of the European Council
230:President of the European Council
607:(Minister of Finance; Leader of
285:Christian Democratic and Flemish
36:
18:2007–11 Belgian political crisis
1208:
1182:
1160:
1108:
1090:
1072:
1056:. Deredactie.be. Archived from
1046:
1024:
998:
976:
946:
924:"Leterme hospitalisé à Louvain"
916:
628:: 16 May 2011 – 6 December 2011
440:
343:On 17 December 2007, incumbent
864:
846:
790:
776:
756:
724:
702:
279:Belgian federal election, 2007
96:2010–2011 government formation
63:2007–2008 government formation
13:
1:
1170:. Belgium Watch. 25 June 2010
1144:. BBC News. 12 January 2011.
696:
478:
461:European Parliament elections
357:to start the formation of an
1320:Political history of Belgium
656:Union for a Popular Movement
369:
7:
1118:. Lesoir.be. Archived from
207:Flemish Christian Democrats
183:French Community of Belgium
10:
1356:
801:. Parties-and-elections.de
658:party of French President
643:
537:
482:
444:
373:
339:Verhofstadt III Government
336:
313:
276:
1102:23 September 2008 at the
1084:21 September 2008 at the
688:
414:German-speaking Community
394:François-Xavier de Donnea
345:Prime Minister of Belgium
1284:fortisgate.wordpress.com
1034:. BBC News. 17 July 2008
1006:"Crisis in de Wetstraat"
712:Vijftien vragen over BHV
499:Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
167:Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
120:Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
1097:Bourgeois neemt ontslag
635:: since 6 December 2011
578:President of the Senate
457:European People's Party
130:State reform in Belgium
320:After the election, a
310:Formation negotiations
219:Belgian Prime Minister
191:new federal government
875:. European Commission
534:Formation negotiators
485:Leterme II Government
447:Van Rompuy Government
433:) resigned his post.
234:Leterme II Government
155:political instability
960:. 25 February 2008.
646:Partition of Belgium
528:Di Rupo I Government
520:New Flemish Alliance
376:Leterme I Government
352:King of the Belgians
322:Christian democratic
289:New-Flemish Alliance
254:caretaker government
241:New Flemish Alliance
211:New Flemish Alliance
175:devolution of powers
125:Partition of Belgium
934:on 17 February 2008
860:. 15 February 2014.
827:The Daily Telegraph
797:Wolfram Nordsieck.
595:Johan Vande Lanotte
418:Karl-Heinz Lambertz
402:Raymond Langendries
287:(CD&V) and the
135:Politics of Belgium
1229:10.1111/gove.12410
1122:on 30 January 2009
1060:on 22 October 2008
986:. 26 February 2008
904:on 7 December 2011
744:on 2 February 2014
717:1 May 2010 at the
597:(Former Leader of
410:Minister-President
391:Ministers of State
359:interim government
300:Reformist Movement
200:Flemish separatism
140:Cabinet of Belgium
106:Sixth state reform
1340:Government crises
1196:. 21 October 2010
1079:NVA zegt steun op
786:. 3 October 2007.
664:French Socialists
510:Federal elections
469:Herman Van Rompuy
350:was asked by the
273:Federal elections
232:. The succeeding
226:Herman Van Rompuy
171:Flemish Community
147:
146:
16:(Redirected from
1347:
1315:2008 in politics
1305:2007 in politics
1259:
1258:
1240:
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1177:
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1044:
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1028:
1022:
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980:
974:
973:
971:
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950:
944:
943:
941:
939:
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914:
913:
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909:
894:
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868:
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839:
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811:
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787:
780:
774:
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760:
754:
753:
751:
749:
728:
722:
710:
706:
672:region of France
497:) fell over the
453:Wilfried Martens
179:unconstitutional
41:
40:
32:
31:
21:
1355:
1354:
1350:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1344:
1335:2011 in Belgium
1330:2010 in Belgium
1325:2009 in Belgium
1310:2008 in Belgium
1300:2007 in Belgium
1290:
1289:
1274:, deredactie.be
1267:
1262:
1213:
1209:
1199:
1197:
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1109:
1104:Wayback Machine
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1091:
1086:Wayback Machine
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1073:
1063:
1061:
1052:
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1047:
1037:
1035:
1030:
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1025:
1015:
1013:
1012:on 31 July 2008
1004:
1003:
999:
989:
987:
982:
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977:
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965:
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951:
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937:
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795:
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777:
762:
761:
757:
747:
745:
730:
729:
725:
719:Wayback Machine
708:
707:
703:
699:
691:
660:Nicolas Sarkozy
648:
642:
605:Didier Reynders
542:
536:
524:Socialist Party
512:
507:
487:
481:
449:
443:
431:Geert Bourgeois
426:Didier Reynders
378:
372:
348:Guy Verhofstadt
341:
335:
333:Verhofstadt III
318:
312:
304:Socialist Party
281:
275:
270:
245:Socialist Party
68:Verhofstadt III
49:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1353:
1343:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1288:
1287:
1281:
1275:
1266:
1265:External links
1263:
1261:
1260:
1207:
1194:Spiegel Online
1181:
1159:
1133:
1107:
1089:
1071:
1045:
1023:
997:
975:
945:
915:
886:
863:
858:The Daily Star
845:
812:
789:
775:
769:Deutsche Welle
755:
723:
700:
698:
695:
690:
687:
644:Main article:
641:
638:
637:
636:
633:Prime Minister
629:
622:
612:
602:
592:
589:
571:
561:
538:Main article:
535:
532:
530:was sworn in.
516:early election
511:
508:
506:
503:
483:Main article:
480:
477:
473:his government
445:Main article:
442:
439:
387:King Albert II
374:Main article:
371:
368:
337:Main article:
334:
331:
314:Main article:
311:
308:
277:Main article:
274:
271:
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262:Prime Minister
187:2010 elections
145:
144:
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98:
91:2010 elections
88:
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71:
65:
58:2007 elections
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50:
46:
45:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1185:
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1163:
1147:
1143:
1137:
1121:
1117:
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1098:
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1087:
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1080:
1075:
1059:
1055:
1049:
1033:
1027:
1011:
1007:
1001:
985:
979:
963:
959:
955:
949:
933:
929:
926:(in French).
925:
919:
903:
899:
893:
891:
874:
867:
859:
855:
849:
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829:
828:
823:
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793:
785:
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771:
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759:
743:
739:
738:
733:
727:
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713:
705:
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694:
686:
684:
683:Paul Magnette
679:
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673:
669:
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652:Walloon Rally
647:
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623:
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596:
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587:
583:
582:André Flahaut
579:
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574:Danny Pieters
572:
569:
565:
562:
559:
555:
554:Bart De Wever
552:
551:
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541:
531:
529:
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517:
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30:
19:
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1216:
1210:
1198:. Retrieved
1193:
1184:
1172:. Retrieved
1162:
1150:. Retrieved
1136:
1124:. Retrieved
1120:the original
1110:
1092:
1074:
1062:. Retrieved
1058:the original
1048:
1036:. Retrieved
1026:
1014:. Retrieved
1010:the original
1000:
988:. Retrieved
978:
966:. Retrieved
957:
948:
936:. Retrieved
932:the original
918:
906:. Retrieved
902:the original
877:. Retrieved
866:
857:
848:
836:. Retrieved
825:
815:
803:. Retrieved
792:
778:
767:
758:
746:. Retrieved
742:the original
735:
726:
704:
692:
680:
649:
580:; N-VA) and
564:Elio Di Rupo
547:Elio Di Rupo
543:
513:
491:Yves Leterme
488:
450:
441:Van Rompuy I
435:
382:Yves Leterme
379:
364:
342:
319:
297:
293:Yves Leterme
282:
258:Elio Di Rupo
238:
222:Yves Leterme
204:
198:amid rising
163:state reform
150:
148:
79:Van Rompuy I
42:
29:
1238:2445/149144
1223:: 155–171.
1064:27 December
938:14 February
838:17 February
631:Di Rupo as
624:Di Rupo as
617:(Leader of
615:Wouter Beke
566:(Leader of
556:(Leader of
408:), and the
215:Fortis case
1294:Categories
1280:BBC report
1217:Governance
1152:12 January
908:6 December
879:17 October
748:8 December
709:(in Dutch)
697:References
479:Leterme II
224:. The new
84:Leterme II
1255:159052266
1247:1468-0491
1200:20 August
676:Le Figaro
626:formateur
465:Albert II
370:Leterme I
355:Albert II
116:See also
101:Di Rupo I
74:Leterme I
70:(interim)
54:Timeline
1270:(Dutch)
1174:7 August
1146:Archived
1126:17 March
1100:Archived
1082:Archived
1038:17 March
1016:17 March
962:Archived
958:BBC News
832:Archived
805:17 March
737:Expatica
715:Archived
668:Flanders
662:and the
619:CD&V
209:and the
196:split up
990:18 July
968:18 July
928:Le Soir
501:issue.
412:of the
326:liberal
159:Belgium
1253:
1245:
689:Impact
400:) and
1251:S2CID
467:gave
1243:ISSN
1202:2011
1176:2011
1154:2011
1128:2011
1066:2008
1040:2011
1018:2011
992:2008
970:2008
940:2008
910:2011
881:2011
840:2011
807:2011
750:2011
599:SP.A
558:N-VA
324:and
250:OECD
149:The
1233:hdl
1225:doi
514:An
406:CdH
260:as
157:in
1296::
1249:.
1241:.
1231:.
1221:33
1219:.
1192:.
956:.
889:^
856:.
830:.
824:.
766:.
734:.
609:MR
568:PS
422:SP
416:,
398:MR
264:.
202:.
1257:.
1235::
1227::
1204:.
1178:.
1156:.
1130:.
1068:.
1042:.
1020:.
994:.
972:.
942:.
912:.
883:.
842:.
809:.
772:.
752:.
584:(
576:(
420:(
404:(
396:(
20:)
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