Credit: charlesmichel@twitter /   Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, resigned after collapse of his government amid vehement opposition to his signing of UN migration pact.

By Gary Raynaldo

A simple signature on the UN migration pact brought down the government of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel like a house of cards.  The Right-Wing Flemish nationalist N-VA, the largest party in Michel’s coalition, withdrew its support of the PM, causing the collapse of his government. Michel then resigned as PM as his government crumbled. The N-VA vocally opposed Michel’s signing of the UN migration pact,  contending it will unleash uncontrolled migration into EU member states.   The UN General Assembly this month adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to help ensure the safety of refugees and migrants.  Michel, 42, took office in October 2014 after forming a right-wing coalition, becoming at 38 the country’s youngest prime minister since 1841. Several EU countries withdrew from the UN pact even before it was signed, including  Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, and Austria, which currently holds the EU presidency. 

Belgian King  Pleads With Prime Minister to stay on until May elections

The king of Belgium accepted the resignation of Michel as prime minister but asked him to stay on at the head of a caretaker government until elections are held in May.

The issue of migration in Europe is a contentious issue, forcing leaders to walk a  political tightrope when addressing both sides of the immigration controversy.

credit: France24.com /   Police deployed teargas and water cannon in Brussels December 16, 2018 after scuffles broke out as thousands of people answered a call by far-right groups to reject a UN migration pact.