Charles Michel resigns as the Prime Minister of Belgium

Charles Michel has resigned from the post of the Prime Minister of Belgium on 19th December 2018. The resignation came as his government was under immense pressure from the opposition over his government’s support for the UN global compact on migration.
Charles Michel’s, who became the Prime Minister of Belgium in 2014, was the country’s youngest prime minister since 1841. He belongs to the francophone liberal party Mouvement Réformateur (MR). His party had earlier lost the support of their coalition partner nationalist New Flemish Alliance over his support for a UN-backed migration deal. There were many angry protests and demonstrations that took place in Brussels against this migration pact.

About UN Global Compact on Migration:

• The negotiations for Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration started in 2016 after the influx of over one million migrants into Europe. 
• In July 2018, all of the 193 members agreed to the UN pact on migration except the United States. But, only 164 countries formally signed the UN migration deal in Marrakech on 10th December 2018.
• The agreement commits the signatories to improve co-operation on international migration.
• The agreement is not legally binding on the countries signing the pact and allows them to be in charge of their own immigration policies.

The agreement stresses that all migrants should be given universal human rights. It seeks to do away with all forms of discrimination against migrants and their families.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2018