Interesting article about Belgian politics

Quote :

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2332

Belgium is an artificial state of 10.5 million inhabitants, which prides itself on being the model for a federal Europe.
The country was put together in 1830-31 by the international powers as
a political compromise and an experiment in building one state out of
two nationalities. It consists of 6 million Dutch-speakers in Flanders,
its northern half that borders on the Netherlands, 3 million
French-\speakers in Wallonia, its southern half that borders on France,
and 1 million people in its capital Brussels, which is also the capital
of Flanders and of the European Union.

Quote :

In 2001 (in an interview in the newspaper Le Matin) Claude
Eerdekens, the Socialist chairman of the Naturalisation Commission of
the Belgian House of Representatives, admitted that his commission was
granting citizenship to foreigners without investigating the
applicants’ backgrounds because most of the immigrants speak French
rather than Dutch. “Our Commission does more for the frenchification of
Brussels than the Flemings can ever do to prevent it,” Mr Eerdekens
boasted.

Quote :

Belgium has corrupted Wallonia. 40% of the Walloons “work” as civil
servants, compared to only 20% of the Flemings; 20% of the Walloons are
unemployed, compared to only 8% of the Flemings. However, if the
Walloons refuse to remedy this situation, if they refuse to pull their
act together, if they keep voting for irresponsible and corrupt
Socialist politicians who promise that everything will remain as it is,
they themselves are asking for the end of Belgium. The Flemings have
had enough.

Everyone in Flanders – not just
“nationalist extremists” as the Walloon Socialists and the Belgian
establishment say – has had enough. Recent polls revealed that more
than 40% of the Flemish entrepreneurs and over half the Flemish
population are in favour of Flemish independence. Those Flemings who do
not aim (yet) for downright independence, want to reduce Belgium to a
confederation of two almost independent states.

Every
year 6.6% of Flanders’ GDP is spent on welfare in Wallonia. The money
has not helped the Walloons but turned them into welfare addicts.
Belgium is a case study of how socialist redistribution schemes lead to
economic perversions.

Whoah, disturbing news, is it really that possible that Flanders can become independent? Imagine the consequences of dividing Belgium.

I´ve heard a similar story before somewhere, but that turned out to be some kind of media joke.

«Trayus» wrote:

Whoah, disturbing news, is it really that possible that Flanders can become independent? Imagine the consequences of dividing Belgium.

Why somebody who support independent Chechnya would be worried about independent Flanders? Double standards? Dutch speakers consist majority in Belgium so if they really want they will do it. Personally I will respect decision of majority but possibility of city of Brussels in hands of Flemish anti-EU party is a joy to my ears, I don't deny this

kcx wrote:

I´ve heard a similar story before somewhere, but that turned out to be some kind of media joke.

You are right but many over there took this news seriously and this says a lot.

You think that there may be something boiling in there?

I have no first hand knowledge
so I'm just an observer. Interestingly EU bureaucrats are really worried about
developments over there.

Quote :

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2361



A quote from Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxemburg, in the Walloon newpaper Le Soir, 25 August 2007
Europe is characterized by problems of cohabitation. The European
credibility of Belgium is at risk if the country does not get its act
together. I have discussed the situation with the Germans, the French
and others, and nobody outside Belgium can imagine a divided Belgium!
[...] Though I do not wish to mingle in the debate between the
Belgians, I sympathize with the Walloons and Francophones in their
reaction to the Flemish demands. But Belgium has got to pull itself
together. For outsiders it must present the image of a country that is
as united as can be. It must know that others are watching how it
solves its problem.

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2378

Another interesting article.

Quote :

Yesterday the conservative French newspaper Le Figaro published a column by Alexandre Adler in which Adler urged the French President Sarkozy to prepare for the annexation of Wallonia by France. Adler said Sarkozy should not miss this historic opportunity “to govern an enlarged France.” He referred to the example of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who in 1990 grabbed the opportunity to incorporate East Germany into the German Federal Republic. Last week a survey in the Netherlands showed 77% of the Dutch in favour of reuniting the Netherlands and Flanders.

Adler also offers an explanation for the remarkable fact that the international media (apart from the media in the Netherlands and France) are largely ignoring Belgium’s worst political crisis ever. He refers to a Russian anecdote from the final days of the Soviet Union. When a Soviet official asked a colleague why he had not come to the last meeting of the leadership, the colleague answered: “If I had known it was going to be the last meeting, I would have come.” The foreign media do not seem to realize the seriousness of the current crisis.

more citizens more votes for France in UE parlament

Rzeczpospolita wrote:

Adler also offers an explanation for the remarkable fact that the international media (apart from the media in the Netherlands and France) are largely ignoring Belgium’s worst political crisis ever.

In Poland it's true i think, im wonder why. Anderchlecht B. in Eredivisie?

What exciting and both disturbing informations! I wonder how this will end, I expect the least expected.