Liberal Didier Reynders attempts chocodiplomacy to solve Belgian crisis

The Wall Street Journal reported about this new Belgian approach to diplomacy in the context of Belgian’s international relations. The appeal of Belgian chocolate across the world and especially in Asia has made Belgium  the world’s third-biggest chocolate exporter, with $2.6 billion shipped out in 2009, and has made “chocolate” a key factor in its diplomacy abroad.

“It is now time to test the chocodiplomacy approach in Belgium itself”, stated a close collaborator of the francophone Liberal Didier Reynders, current Vice-Prime Minister in the troubled Belgian government and appointed this weekend by King Albert II to be the mediator (“bemiddelaar”) in finding a solution to Belgium’s current crisis.

Asked for more details about this approach, Reynders refused to elaborate but we were told that different approaches were being considered, notably:

• using chocolate treats at meetings with key figures in Belgian politics. With this scenario, meetings would start with a chocolate body wrapping to appease spirits, followed by a five course dinner including chocolate in every dish and during which participants would be allowed to (and we quote the unofficial memo that was shared with us)) “throw food at each other and subsequently eat it off or lick it off each other ion a show of friendly comradeship and bonding across linguistic communities”. Reynders’ entourage was very hopeful that this would soften the spirits of key figures such as Bart De Wever and Jean-Luc Dehaene, but could possibly be less successful with personalities such as Maingain or De Winter, not renown for their “sweetness factor”.
• including an obligation in any agreement between Walloon and Flemish politicians to jointly promote a new brand of “Belgian-minded” chocolates, depicting a lion holding hands with a rooster and joyfully strolling down a yellow-brick road. The denomination of the said chocolates has not yet been finalised but it seems “Flalloon Balloon” or “Wallish Relish” are the two strongest contenders. The purpose would be to present a united andd “sweet” front to the world in order to end the current perception of an unstable and divided nation.

It is not clear yet how the other parties around the table feel about this novel approach and the BJ reporters will follow the process closely.