In the last decades, severe tensions across the linguistic divide in a country that hosts key international institutions such as the EU and NATO, have seen it morph progressively into a federal state that devolves increasing powers to its language-based regions.
During his two decades at the helm, Albert II helped steer the country through several crises and avoid break-up.
He played a key role to end its longest political crisis in 2010-2011 when the country went through a record-breaking 541 days without a government.
In a farewell speech to the nation Saturday, he said his first wish as he stepped down was to see Belgium “retain its cohesion”.
“I am convinced that maintaining the cohesion of our Federal state is vital, not only for our quality of life together, which requires dialogue, but also so as to preserve the well-being of all,” he said.
Many fear that the separatist N-VA, the strongest party in Flanders, will make further gains in next May’s general election.
With the country mindful of the need to tighten government spending due to Europe’s economic crisis, Sunday’s celebrations that take place on its National Day will be kept to around 600,000 euros ($788,000), on a par with the annual
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