Flandres! Will Belgium survive?

[zelenabanana]

What do you think, will Flanders finally manage as richer part of Belgium to go out of Belgium? Will Brussels remain Flemish?

 

[Tengilethos]

Well, there are significant minorities in Flanders and Wallonia who support the dissolution of Belgium. But both cannot afford to go alone without Brussels, and they won't allow the other to have it. Still, this seems more likely than Scottish or Bavarian independence. But this is not controversial like the Kosovo case. If both sides want to separate, who would have any issues with it?

 

[zelenabanana]

Yeah... push up of Kosovo separation some powers made dangerous precedent, thou in my opinion Scotland or Flandres have rights as they are nations with no other state. Albanians in Kosovo are national minority and their mother state is Albania, so can go back whenever they want.

 

[rareboy]

This is all about you and the Serbs isn't it?

Relax.

There will always be the states and regions that want autonomy.

 

[zelenabanana]

Sorry isn't Belgium the state which got record in waiting a government? Isn't there a hugeeeeee problem? Why do you mix apples and oranges? Flemish want it! And it's so much in the air Belgium won't survive, neither UK

 

[ChickenGuy]

It was only a few years ago that I realised that half of Belgium was essentially Dutch. I had always thought it was exclusively French-speaking and culturally French.

(P.S. I had thought exactly the same about Switzerland - then discovered it's part German and part Italian)

With regard to Belgium, I'm surprised that the Europhiles and bureaucrats have missed a trick here.

Why have they not encouraged Belgium to split into three - Flanders, Wallonia, and....

(are you ready for this)
....European Capital Territory - the Federal capital city of the EU country (also known as Brussels)

I'm amazed they haven't seized this opportunity to grab Brussels from the Belgians and create a special and official European capital city (by law) of all (former) 27 countries.

Now that my Europhobic colours are exposed lol I also have a question about the King of Belgium - would he remain monarch of both the French and Dutch regions? (obviously he would be deposed from Brussels, and be replaced by Special Representative of Republic of Capital City of European Union)

What will become of dear Albert II? Monarchy retained for both French and Dutch regions?

 

[zelenabanana]

And funny thing is that Flemish are majority and richer but are in position like minority and not equal

 

[zelenabanana]

ps. In Switzerland they also have small piece of some old Swiss speaking population Romansh

 

[ChickenGuy]

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

The Flemish probably fear the Dutch will tear them another one.

 

[Tengilethos]

I always thought that only the idea of Wallonia joining France was under serious consideration, while there is absolutely no support either in Flanders or the Netherlands for those two to merge. Why should they fear the Dutch?

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

I always thought that only the idea of Wallonia joining France was under serious consideration, while there is absolutely no support either in Flanders or the Netherlands for those two to merge. Why should they fear the Dutch?

The Netherlands is richer and more populous than Belgium, and Belgium fears that the Dutch will abuse this to dominate the region.

If they divide the country in pieces, chances are the position of the Flemish will become even more disadvantageous.

 

[rareboy]

You all realize that the OP is only trying to make a point about Balkanization don't you?

 

[Tengilethos]

But the break-up of Belgium is a real possibility. Is it wrong to discuss it?

 

[oakpope]

French people are very welcoming towards the 4 millions Wallons

More than a year without government (there is a government but it can't make big decisions), it's an embarrasing problem nonetheless.

 

[zelenabanana]

I always thought that only the idea of Wallonia joining France was under serious consideration, while there is absolutely no support either in Flanders or the Netherlands for those two to merge. Why should they fear the Dutch?

I agree with you. I have a friend from Flanders and he feels so proud of it. He even call his language Flemish. And he spoke to me that France took from Flanders some lands etc.

Walonia is very poor and how knows what will be with it

 

[zelenabanana]

But the break-up of Belgium is a real possibility. Is it wrong to discuss it?

Oh let him... He fears to talk about reality. He doesn't see that we all watch in the news for year about crises in forming Belgian government and that it's split is so close to come.

It is not wrong to discuss about current politics. Isn't it rareboy?

 

[zelenabanana]

http://www.euronews.net/2011/06/14/belgium-s-flemings-push-for-own-free-state/

A group of Belgian right-wing politicians have again pressed their case for a Flemish state not joined with a Walloon state. As a protest against Belgium having no government for just over a year now, the Vlaams Belang party leader, Philip De Winter, briefly renamed the ‘Rue de la Loi’ in Brussels: ‘Flemish Street of Independence’. The police took his sign down.

De Winter said: “After one year of negotiations without any results I think it’s clear that there should be an alternative, and that alternative is the independence of Flanders and the independence of Wallonia. We need a Flemish republic because doing what we are doing now has no sense.”

There was some light pushing and shoving between politicians and police standing in the way of any more sign changing. Handcuffed protesters were carted away.

General elections last year failed to produce a new government and show-cased the divisions between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. This goes on. The Flemish separatists N-VA, led by Bart de Wever, hold the key to a deal.

Leader of the French-speaking Socialists, Elio Di Rupo is having another go at negotiating with the Flemish, who complain they are subsidising Wallonia in the south. If Di Rupo gets nowhere, there will be elections again.

 

[zelenabanana]

http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/30/belgian-political-crisis-rumbles-on/

Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde (BHV) is officially in Flanders, Belgium’s Dutch-speaking north.

But a large number of French speakers live there and they are allowed to vote for Francophone politicians in elections.

The Flemish fear a creeping “Frenchification” of their counties.

Flanders also wants more regional powers to reflect its prosperity and strong economy.

It has half the unemployment of French-speaking Wallonia in the south.

The Flemish have long complained they are subsidising their Francophone neighbours.

 

[dingue]

i've had this shit discussion every day of my life for 10 years now...... i'm getting sick of it i guess.