A national strike of doctors and dentists, improved relations with the government of the Congo (Léopoldville), general price inflation, and local elections with implications for next year's general election were Belgium's main news events in 1964.
Doctors' Strike.
The government's national health insurance plan went into effect January 1. Doctors complained that the plan extended free care to widows, orphans, the aged, and chronic invalids and cut fees to half the prevailing rate. In April, following months of protest meetings, 85 percent of Belgium's 12,000 physicians and dentists went on an 18-day strike, many leaving for vacations outside the country. Medical services were limited to emergency care. Hospitals operated with minimum staffs. Corporation doctors who did not join the strike were swamped with calls. Workers staged angry anti-doctor demonstrations.
Even more than low fees, the striking doctors protested, on ethical grounds, the free access health insurance firms were given to medical reports and diagnoses. The doctors complained that this access compromised the confidential nature of the doctor-patient relationship.
Political Split.
Belgium's political parties were divided on the strike. The conservative middle class, right-wing religious groups, industrialists, and shopkeepers all supported the doctors. Belgium's coalition government, consisting of the Christian Socialists and the Socialists, and their trade union supporters, opposed the doctors. The deadlock was broken by Prime Minister Théo Lefèvre, who called into active military service 3,650 doctors holding reserve commissions. He also requisitioned 2,000 more of the striking doctors into the military service. This drastic move induced the doctors to negotiate, and a compromise was reached on June 25. The government modified the health insurance law by raising fees and re-establishing doctors' professional secrecy.
Resolution of Congo Public Debt.
Steps taken in 1964 to meet the public debt payments of the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville), unresolved since June 1960, eased previously hostile relations between Belgium and its former central African territory. On September 9 it was disclosed that to pay off the Congo debt Belgium had borrowed $42 million from the Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York. Belgium will pay $240 million in foreign currency toward the Congo's public debt, and the Léopoldville government agreed to pay about $400 million in Congolese francs toward its internal debt. The remainder of the debt will be refinanced and jointly managed. This accommodation led to loans from Belgium for Congolese development projects. Belgium's Sabena airline and the Air-Congo airline reached transportation agreements.
Belgian Rescue Operations in the Congo.
In the Congo's fight against allegedly Communist-led rebels, Belgium's aid has been limited to about 200 nonfighting technical advisers. Belgium's fear that this aid might bring rebel reprisals against Belgians living in the Congo was realized in November, when white Belgians and Americans were taken as hostages by rebel forces. An airlift staged by Belgium and the United States succeeded in removing many of the captives to Belgium.
Inflation.
Belgium, along with other European Common Market countries, suffered from general inflation in 1964. Domestic prices in Belgium rose by 5 percent. Political parties have not agreed on the kinds of controls needed to curb the inflation.
Local Elections.
In 2,600 municipal elections on October 11 the coalition parties (Christian Socialists and Socialists) lost heavily to the Liberal Party and the Communist Party. The loss was attributed to a 1963 tax increase, which was keenly felt by middle-class wage earners, and to the government's unsuccessful attempt to ease long-standing tension between Flemish-speaking and French-speaking Belgians. The significance of the political shift is seen as a threat to the coalition government in the general election scheduled for May 1965.
Area and Population.
Area, 11,775 sq. mi. (plus small enclave in the Netherlands). Pop. (1962), 9,251,414. Brussels (cap.; est.), 1,029,693.
Government.
Constitutional monarchy. King, Baudouin I; Prime Min., Théo Lefèvre (Christian Socialist); Vice-Premier and Min. of For. Affairs, Paul-Henri Spaak (Socialist). Senate seats (elected Mar. 26, 1961): Christian Socialist, 47; Socialist, 45; Liberal, 11; Flemish People's Union, 2; Communist, 1. Chamber of representatives seats (elected Mar. 26, 1961): Christian Socialist, 96; Socialist, 84; Liberal, 20; Communist, 5; Flemish People's Union, 5; independent, 2.
Official Languages.
French and Flemish.
Religion.
Roman Catholic majority.
Finance.
Monetary unit, Belgian franc; 1 Belgian franc = U.S.$0.02. Budget (est. 1964): revenue, 149.3 billion Belgian francs; expenditure, 140.2 billion Belgian francs.
Trade (1962).
Imports, 227,770,000,000 Belgian francs; exports, 216,179,285,000 Belgian francs. Major trading partners: Common Market countries, United States.
Education (1961-1962).
Infant schools, 4,775; enrollment, 413,664. Elementary schools, 9,279; enrollment, 926,793. Secondary schools: 607 state, 7 provincial, 41 commercial; total enrollment, 105,349; free higher grade schools, 670. Higher education: state institutions, 11; several state agricultural institutions; polytechnical schools, 1; commercial colleges, 7; royal academies of fine arts, 5; royal conservatories, 5; schools of music, 128; schools of design, 94. Normal schools: for infant-school teachers, 42; enrollment, 5,930; for elementary school teachers, 94; enrollment, 16,221; for secondary school teachers, 59; enrollment, 7,238.
Armed Forces.
Army, 1 corps of 2 infantry divisions; air force, 11 operational squadrons; naval personnel (1963), 5,250 officers. Belgium has an agreement on military standardization with the Netherlands.
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