BRUSSELS: Belgium’s King Albert II is to announce he will abdicate on July 21, the country’s National Day, in a speech to the nation yesterday, a Belgian government source said.
The palace said “the king will address the people” in a speech to be broadcast live on radio and television at 1600 GMT, and the source said the monarch would announce his abdication for July 21 — confirming Belgian press reports.
The speech is to be followed 15 minutes later by a statement from Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo.
Di Rupo’s office said that a “restricted cabinet meeting” had taken place earlier in the day “in the presence of the king.”
Albert, who has reigned for 20 years and who turned 79 last month, has played a key role in the political life of the small language-divided nation.
