BELGIUM: Up in the Air

"Let's settle it, one way or the other," said Belgians who wanted a national referendum on whether King Leopold III should return to his throne. The vote was held, and this week the returns were in. They settled nothing.

Leopold had said that if he got less than 55% of the vote he would abdicate in favor of his son, Baudouin I (rhymes, approximately, with road man). Many of his opponents conceded that he should be allowed to return if he got 65%. Leaders of the Liberal Party, which holds the balance of power in Parliament, imposed a stricter condition:...

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