This may seem like a unique political experiment, a gentle form of anarchy in which politicians have made themselves redundant. But the effects in the long run may be damaging, as a number of necessary reforms are stalled. Still, this sinister anniversary has produced no mass protests, the outcome in the short run being limited to acres of extra newspaper pages.

Has any progress been made? Well, no. The issue of state reform, which the Flemish want and the French speakers fear, seems to be heading nowhere. Moreover, the reactions to recent recommendations from the European Commission showed the divide between Flemish and French speakers on other – social-economic – issues is deeper than ever.

Formateur Elio Di Rupo (PS) promised some progress before the holidays, but we may face yet another long, hot summer. N-VA, the largest party in Flanders, in fact has little interest in a speedy agreement. Most observers believe the party wants to keep the discussion on community issues going until October 2012, when local elections are planned. This would keep the nationalist N-VA in the spotlight and allow it to set up the grassroots structure it lacks so far across Flanders.

All other parties seem shellshocked by N-VA’s success. The Open VLD liberals, which caused the election by withdrawing its support for the previous government, are in doubt as to abhor or admire the nationalists. The socialist SP.A struggles with internal division and the fact that its associated with the Frenchspeaking PS, which N-VA holds responsible for the state the country is in. The Christiandemocrat CD&V has aligned itself with N-VA but has yet to benefit from that strategy, which is increasingly contested. Moreover, CD&V is no longer the “people’s party” it was for decades, recent post-electoral research shows.

According to a study by the Catholic University of Leuven, N-VA voters come from every walk of life – making it the new people’s party – and are largely pro-Flemish and right wing. Also, they tend to show a cynical attitude towards politics in general.

Now there’s a recipe for success – for after a year like this, who can help but become somewhat cynical?