Belgian beard protest faces razor blades

Apr 29, 2011 |

Reuters

Brussels

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Belgian men who pledged not to shave until their politicians agree on a new government appear to have begun reaching for their razors, exasperated at the lack of progress.

French-speaking actor Benoit Poelvoorde made the call to grow whiskers in January as a protest against the deadlock between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking parties.

A total of 798 men initially signed up on the website http://www.unebelgiqueaupoil.be/
But Poelvoorde himself has now shaved, Belgian newspapers reported, though his agent was unable to confirm this.

Flemish radio and TV presenter Koen Fillet said he was keeping his beard growing, for now.

"I fear that if I weren't a more or less well-known personality I would have shaved by now," he told the media.

Fillet, who posts regular progress pictures on the website of Flemish Radio 1, was not sure how much longer he would go on.

"...I just sighed deeply. Slowly I'm starting to think that I will shave on the 365th day, on the anniversary of the June 13 elections. By then it will be clear that we are in an impossible situation. Does that sound honourable?"

Talks to form a new government, currently led by Flemish Christian Democrat Wouter Beke, continue with little sign of progress, 318 days after the elections.

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