Hey, not a bad idea, I would probably be happy with an impotent King instead of that fracking Sarko.
Btw I thought you were going to study in Italy. Change of plans?
I don't think it is comparable. Although the French speaking Belgians have been the dominant class for years and imo deserve some sort of backlash, I don't believe the federal troops were ever sent to clamp down on Flemish protesters. I hope this is right. Bub?
They spoke French but it was still the local aristocracy, these were Flemish noblemen (look at their names: de Maere d'Aetrycke, de Kerchove, de Lichtervelde...) which have nothing to do with Walloon people. The Russian tsars also spoke French!
As for federal troops, no, I don't think they've ever been sent to stop Flemish protesters. But since the army is increasingly Flemish (last 2 years there have been 8 new generals, only 1 was Walloon) it's very unlikely!
Do the independance parties have a majority, are the confederates going to support their agenda, is Wallonia going to cooperate? I think it’s never going to happen. If they‘d gain a majority they still depend on Wallonia and their willingness to find a solution for Brussels and the debt isseu. Let’s say they would be willing to sacrifice Brussels and agree on the debt, is that what flemish people favor or would such an agreement cost them voters? When they can no longer rely on popular criticism and become dependant on their ability to find solutions, their electorate is going to diminish like snow for the sun.
We can compare the populism of the dutch PVV with independence parties in Flanders, popular because of their criticism of the old power parties, but not presenting any viable solution to the problems that causes the malcontent.
I'm not sure about that. It's not simply a superficial populist movement, it's an old movement whose roots are nearly as old as Belgium, and it looks like they're gaining importance among younger generations. I know around 20 Flemish people, all of them are 20-25 years old and half of them are independentists!
I find your view about Brussels very interesting Bub, I immediately thought about another capital in the middle east. Are you suggesting that language is the deciding factor?
Deciding factor to see who is Walloon and who is Flemish? Yes, language is the most important issue and it is the core element of the Flemish culture.
Bigger? A country works like a brand it the sense that if you want people to go on holiday in Belgium, they should at the very least know it exists. Flanders may survive but it’s not going to do them much good, they wont have a WC, the olympics or chair the EU as often as Belgium would. It’s going to take time and effort before people find out where to buy the best beer and chocolate.
Tourism isn't federal anymore, if you visit Brussels you won't see any Belgian tourism office, you'll see a Flemish tourism office and a Walloon one just 50 meters away. Same in NY, it's a "Flanders house" and not a "Belgian tourism office". I know that "Belgian beers" and "Belgian chocolate" are quite well known, but on the other hand Flanders is already famous thanks to its painters...I don't think independence would be a huge obstacle for tourism.
Exactly, and that makes them hypocrites; supposedly supporting european integration while their raison d’etre is the segregation of Belgium. On one hand they are unable to work out their differences with the Walloons but on the other they are convinced they’ll have less problems dealing with 25+ EU countries (among them Wallonia). It’s ridiculous but it’s quite telling at the same time.
That is a good point
I think that flemish people are fed up with politicians who seem unable to solve problems and who spend most of their time forming governments. I do not believe they really want to abolish Belgium, I just think the situation has become hopeless and this is a way to voice their disgust. Not so long ago, before the mines were closed, the situation was different and Flanders was the ‘weaker’ brother. Wallonia needs to reform no matter what happens.
The problem is that Wallonia has been sinking for 50 years. The mines closed, that was unavoidable, but it was also foreseeable, Walloon politicians should have invested in new technologies instead of spending trillions trying to keep the coal mines open. And the people who made these mistakes are still the ones who have been elected in june 2010, it's the socialists. I think it's also one part of the problem, the south is hardcore socialist (the PS is almighty and has been in every Walloon government for decades) and talks about "solidarity" while being innefficient, corrupt and in deficit for decades. It's not just that they don't want to pay anymore, it's that they feel that the situation in the south is not going to change, instead of trying to make reforms we elect the same people (who are responsible for the dramatic economical situation) again and again.
and have to rely on a neo nazi racist to form a government.