Hypothetical partition of Belgium
The partition of Belgium is a hypothetical situation, which has been discussed by both Belgian and international media, envisioning a split of Belgium along linguistic divisions, with the Flemish Community (Flanders) and the French-speaking Community (Wallonia) becoming independent states. Alternatively, it is hypothesized that Flanders could join the Netherlands (Greater Netherlands movement) and Wallonia could join France (Rattachist movement).[1][2][3]
Both communities have a large degree of autonomy within the Belgian federation.
Complicating questions of partition are the status in a partitioned Belgium of Brussels (an autonomous bilingual region, geographically located in the Flemish half of the country) and the minority German-speaking Community.
Background
The territories corresponding to the modern Belgian, Dutch and
Antagonism between speakers of French and Dutch increased after the
Since the 1960s, separate regions have been created based on the country's linguistic division. As a result, minorities in certain areas (in and around Brussels and along the language border) claim to be disenfranchised in local government and services. Along with the usual left–right political division, there is also a linguistic division, causing a
According to a 2019 opinion poll by the Flemish newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, 28.4% of the population supports a partition of Belgium whereas 62.7% opposes it; the remaining 8.8% having no opinion; ignoring those without opinion, this would leave 31.2% in favour and 68.8% opposed to partition.[9] However, the opinion poll was limited to the Flemish province of Limburg, which is considered somewhat less Flemish nationalist, especially compared to Antwerp Province.
Regional demographics
Belgium portal |
As no
The Capital Region having bilingual status obliges its authorities to attend to people and organisations in French or Dutch language as these prefer, and to show street names in both languages on the plates, but does not allow a bilingual school as education belongs to either the
Dutch is mainly spoken by approximately 150,000 residents, or a 15% minority, at most. The city has strong economic ties with surrounding Flanders, and many Dutch-speakers commute to Brussels for work; but, at the same time, the expanding suburbs of Brussels led to a majority of French-speakers in six Flemish villages.
Feudal borders
The territory of Belgium is the southern part of the historical region called
The feudal borders partitioning Belgium during the
In 1815, the territory now constituting Belgium was incorporated into the
Major European powers (which included France,
However, this plan was rejected as absurd by the French ambassador to the United Kingdom,
Language border
The
Prior to the 20th century, this language border did not merely distinguish speakers of
The historical language border in the Low Countries corresponds to the frontier between populations whose majorities spoke distinct languages. However, the ruling upper classes most often spoke French. As was the case in many European
The
- Brusselsto the bilingual language area,
- the Flemish Community to the Dutch and bilingual language areas, the French Community to the French and bilingual language areas, and, the German-speaking Community to the German language area.
This territorial issue, in particular around Brussels, is a source of tension between the Belgian communities.
Nationalisms and regionalisms
Belgian nationalism
Currents of Belgian nationalism began to emerge in the late 19th century, seeking to overcome the ethnic and linguistic divide and create a national culture. Historian Henri Pirenne asserted that Belgian identity was not defined on racial, ethnic or linguistic lines, but in the civilizational community of the Belgian people.[19] Supporters of a partition of Belgium argue that the synchronized attempts to forge a national identity and culture have been unable to forestall ethno-linguistic rivalries.[citation needed]
Flemish movement
French was the only official language of Belgium until 1898, even though
While a
Walloon/Francophone movement
The Walloon movement arose in the 19th century along with the language disputes; French-speakers sought the preservation of the French language and culture as the defining creed of the country. French-speaking politicians (who were sometimes elected in Flanders) and other influential citizens opposed the Flemish demands for the recognition of Dutch and wished to maintain a centralized government to prevent regionalization. On the other hand, the Walloon politician Jules Destrée reacted in 1912 to the process of minorisation of Wallonia and asked explicitly for a splitting of Belgium along linguistic lines. However, Destrée was using the word separation in French in the sense of federalization (French: séparation administrative), and not in the sense of complete partition. The New York Times explained that Destrée was afraid of the domination of the Flemings within Belgian institutions.[34]
Governments | From | To | Flemish ministers | Ministers from Brussels | Walloon ministers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A. Beernaert
|
October 26, 1884 | March 17, 1894 | 60% | 14% | 26% |
J. de Burlet | March 26, 1894 | June 25, 1896 | 75% | 9% | 16% |
P. de Smet de Naeyer (1) | June 26, 1896 | January 23, 1899 | 87% | 0% | 13% |
J. Vandenpeereboom | January 24, 1899 | July 31, 1899 | 84% | 0% | 16% |
P. de Smet de Naeyer (2) | August 5, 1899 | April 12, 1907 | 76% | 0% | 24% |
J. de Trooz | May 1, 1907 | December 31, 1907 | 67% | 11% | 22% |
F. Schollaert | January 9, 1908 | June 8, 1911 | 57% | 22% | 21% |
Ch. de Broqueville | June 18, 1911 | August 4, 1914 | 42% | 22% | 36% |
The Flemish historian Maarten van Ginderachter wrote that the Walloons were "excluded from the national power, between 1884 and 1902 there was only one Walloon in the Belgian government at any time".[36]
After the division of Belgium into two clearly separate linguistic areas, and after the economic decline of Wallonia, two more or less separate currents have formed. One is a more regional Walloon movement, demanding to maintain the solidarity between the richer north and the poorer south, but also increasingly stressing the separate cultural identity of Wallonia. Another current is merely Francophone and pro-Belgian, but not regional as such, mainly based on the French-speakers of Brussels and especially of the surrounding rim municipalities which are effectively suburbs of Brussels but situated in Flanders. The two movements have in common the support of the French language, support of the Belgian state and opposition to further federal devolution. A minority of Walloons, however, support increased independence. Flemish nationalists have claimed that the French-speaking "Belgicists" of Brussels and its suburbs do not have common interests with the Walloons, but that these two parties have formed a
Since the 1960s, Belgian political parties and civic organizations have witnessed bifurcation of membership and organizations between Walloon and Flanders. Ethnic tensions affect the working of local governments, which often pass laws prohibiting the use of the language of the respective minority populations in official functions.[
Brussels
The main reason for Brussels being mainly French-speaking was the low social prestige of the Dutch language in Belgium during the 19th century and the severe discrimination against both Dutch as a language and the Flemings.
The status of Brussels in a partitioned Belgium is uncertain and a source of considerable debate.
- Union with Flanders
One idea is that the city rejoins Flanders in which Brussels is geographically and economically embedded. Proposals include a guarantee that the linguistic rights of the French-speaking population in Brussels are safeguarded.
- Union with Wallonia
Another idea is that Brussels would form a union with Wallonia, often referred to as Wallobrux. One problem is that the regions do not border each other, as Brussels is an enclave in Flanders. Some French-speaking politicians therefore demand that a corridor be made between the two territories (see the topic of the extension of Brussels below).
- City-state scenario
Another idea is that Brussels would become a "European
- Extension of Brussels
A controversial issue, complicating the "city-state" scenario, is the possible extension of the Brussels capital region into the surrounding municipalities within Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant. This proposal is not necessarily linked to a split-up of Belgium.
Some have, however, suggested that these wealthy areas would make the city financially viable as an independent state, potentially give it around
The enlargement of the Brussels capital region is supported by many French-speakers in the Flemish municipalities with facilities for French-speakers surrounding Brussels. As a result of suburbanisation and an influx of French-speakers and EU officials from Brussels, these municipalities have in recent decades become increasingly French-speaking to an extent that French-speakers now form a majority in some municipalities. In contrast, an extension of the bilingual region is out of the question for the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of these communities and for virtually all Flemish political parties, who say that these newer inhabitants should respect and adjust to the language of the region they are moving into. In fact the facilities now in place were initially established in order to ease the adaptation of the French-speaking to living in a Flemish area[citation needed].
Similar to a "Greater Brussels" region, the electoral district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde consisted of Brussels and 35 surrounding municipalities in Flanders. Prior to its dissolution, this district was the last remaining entity in Belgium that did not coincide with provincial borders, and as such had been deemed unconstitutional by the Belgian Constitutional Court. The district was a conflict issue for several years, and a major political problem in the cabinet formation crisis of 2007–2008. In July 2012, following the 2010–2011 Belgian government formation, Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde was split into two parts as part of the sixth Belgian state reform.
- Condominium
Another proposition is the establishment of a condominium of the Flemish and the French-speaking Communities of Brussels, where both sides would govern Brussels together for national and international issues. For all local territorial policies, Brussels would be fully autonomous. For all 'non-territorial' public services (as culture, welfare and education), each community would enjoy autonomy. This idea is in general popular among Flemish politicians, such as socialist politician Louis Tobback and nationalist Bart De Wever.[citation needed]
Such an arrangement existed for several centuries in Maastricht. Shortly after 1200 this city received dual authority, with the prince-bishops of Liège and the dukes of Brabant holding joint sovereignty over the city. In 1284, this dual authority was formally endorsed in a constitutional agreement, the 'Alde Caerte' ('Old Charter'). After some disputes in the interpretation, this was elaborated further in 1356 with the Doghter Caerte ('Daughter Charter'). These institutional arrangements then survived until the French Revolution.
This dual authority ensured a relatively stable and prosperous institutional environment for nearly six centuries (from 1204 till 1794). The citizens from Maastricht had to choose between the Brabant nationality (and jurisprudence) and the Liège nationality. Each had its own judges and public services. Something similar would be the case if Brussels became a condominium governed by the two major communities, the French-speakers and the Flemings.
German-speaking Community
The small
Four theoretical scenarios are usually considered in the event that a partition of Belgium would occur: remaining with Wallonia, sovereign statehood, reattachment to Germany, or attachment to Luxembourg. The community is part of the Walloon
21st century position of the political parties
Affiliation | Members | Language | Ideology | |
---|---|---|---|---|
New Flemish Alliance | 25 | Dutch | Liberal conservatism & Flemish separatism | |
Socialist Party
|
20 | French | Social democracy | |
Reformist Movement
|
14 | French | Liberalism | |
Christian Democratic and Flemish
|
12 | Dutch | Christian democracy | |
Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats
|
12 | Dutch | Liberalism & Social liberalism | |
Forward | 9 | Dutch | Social democracy | |
Humanist Democratic Centre
|
5 | French | Christian democracy | |
Green
|
8 | Dutch | Green politics | |
Ecolo | 13 | French | Green politics | |
Flemish Interest | 18 | Dutch | Far-right politics & Flemish separatism | |
Workers' Party of Belgium | 12 | bilingual | Marxism & Unionism | |
Challenge | 2 | French | Regionalism & Liberalism | |
People's Party | 0 | French | Confederalism
| |
Total | 150 |
The parties with long lasting participation in the Belgian governments, that is the Christian Democrats, the Liberals and the Socialists, as well as the Green parties, usually refuse to speak openly about a possible partitioning of Belgium. This question seems to be taboo on the Belgian political scene and is only discussed from time to time by mainstream politicians in order to menace the other community, not unlike the atomic bomb threat during the
Socialist Party Different (sp.a), the Flemish socialist party, states on its website that it believes an independent Flanders is not necessary. It does support the devolution of a number of additional responsibilities, such as the railways or the policy of employment.
The Francophone Socialist Party (PS) and Christian democrats (cdH) promote the conservation of the current Belgian welfare state, and therefore oppose any further regionalisation of the federal social policies.[50][51] The Reformist Movement, the Francophone liberal party, stresses in its manifesto that the Flemings are intending to split most of the solidarity mechanisms that exist between the Belgians. They also state that they minimize the importance of the Brussels-Capital Region as a constitutional component of the federal state. Their approach is to build strong links between the different components of the French-speaking part of Belgium, including Brussels and Wallonnia as well as the municipalities with a French-speaking presence around Brussels and in Voeren. The aim of this approach is to create a strong autonomous Francophone component within the federal state.[52] Écolo, the Francophone Green party, supports an improvement of the political links between the communities. They suggest, among other things, the creation of a national electoral arrondissement for the election of part of the federal parliament.[53]
Outright support
In Flanders, several large parties openly call for a partition of the country.
Several small parties with no or very few seats at the parliament campaign explicitly for the unity of the Belgian state. The conservative
There are several Walloon representatives of the Socialist Party in the Walloon Parliament who are in favour of the Walloon Regionalism, also in the Walloon Government such as
2007–11 Belgian political crisis
2007 government formation
The
Eventually, after 196 days, the parties finally succeeded in forming a new government. In December 2008, another crisis related to the
Although most Flemish political parties describe their demands as limited to seeking greater regional autonomy and decentralization of government (save for members of the Vlaams Belang party,[18] who called for a splitting of the country and claim of a national identity, culture and institutions, as well as claim Belgium is an "unnatural" and "artificial" state,[66] formed simply as a buffer between France and other European powers during 19th century conflicts), some public opinion polls performed during the communautary crisis showed that approximately 46% of Flemish people support secession from Belgium. Other surveys indicated only 12% of the Flemings want the end of Belgium, whereas 37% want more responsibilities to be devolved to communities and the regions.[7] Many French-speakers maintain that there is sufficient regional autonomy and that Flemish demands are exaggerated and separatist in nature.[67] However, the diversity of Brussels and its significant economic and geopolitical importance in the Western hemisphere as the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, make it a unifying force, making partition unlikely at least for the near future.[18] In response to heightening domestic and international speculation regarding the country's future, the Belgian government launched a public relations campaign through its embassies worldwide to assuage concerns and fight speculation that Belgium's division is impending, as indicated by numerous recent public opinion polls.[37] The King of the Belgians rejected notions and speculation over a change in the nature of the Belgian state as part of proposals for the formation of a working government.
On November 18, 2007, an estimated 25,000 people marched in Brussels to support the unity of Belgium. The march was organized by
The
In 2007, Polls in Editie NL, a Dutch news program on the commercial station RTL 4 and newspaper De Dag in the Netherlands showed that between 45% and 77% of Dutch nationals (the results of the two different polls) would support a merger of their country with Flanders.[74] However a similar poll performed by Synovate Nederland in 2010, showed that only 20% of the Dutch support a union between the Netherlands and Flanders.[75][76] A comparable poll held in 2007 in France showed that a majority of French citizens would support a merger of Wallonia with France, if Belgium ceased to exist.[77] However, French politicians have ruled out any interference into the inner Belgian debate.[78][79]
2010 fall of government and new government formation
After the
Although seven parties (N-VA, CD&V, sp.a, Groen!, PS, cdH, and Ecolo) were participating, the negotiations were led by the main winners, Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Elio Di Rupo (PS). The large number of implied parties was due not only to the multipolar Belgian political landscape but also to the will of the Flemish parties to reform the state and, hence, to change the constitution, which can be modified according only to very restrictive rules including a two-thirds majority vote in the Lower House.
Some in the international media saw this election as evidence that Belgium would be partitioned.
On October 4, 2010, De Wever (N-VA) left the negotiations. His exit put Di Rupo's Plan B for Belgium, i.e. a partition of Belgium along the borderline of the French Community, under a new light and many, particularly in the French-speaking part of the country, started to speak openly about its concrete implementation. Plan B is the continuation of Belgium with Brussels and Wallonia only and the departure of Flanders from the Belgian federation. On October 10, Elio Di Rupo stated on television what his plan was: first, asking the Flemish population whether it was willing to secede; second, asking the population in Brussels and Wallonia whether they intended to remain united within Belgium. He also stressed that in either case citizens living in municipalities with linguistic facilities should also be asked. He however underlined that he did not desire such an extreme response but that this scenario should not be ignored.
References
- ^ a b "Belgium's 'AA+' rating, stable outlook unaffected by political stalemate — Fitch". Forbes. April 12, 2007. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
Fitch believes while the eventual partition of Belgium has always been a possibility, it is unlikely to happen over the medium-term. It added that the most likely scenario is that hard-fought negotiation will result in constitutional changes that further decentralise the Belgian state.
- ^ Elizabeth Bryant (October 12, 2007). "Divisions could lead to a partition in Belgium". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
- ^ Dominic Hughes (July 15, 2008). "Analysis: Where now for Belgium?". BBC News Online. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
- ^ Kris Deschouwer. "Ethnic structure, inequality and governance of the public sector in Belgium" (PDF). United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). January 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 14, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
- ^ a b Philippe Van Parijs (1999). "Just health care and the two solidarities" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
Statistical data revealed that the Walloon population had a per capita consumption of publicly funded health care significantly higher than the Flemish population. This could be attributed in part to its demographic structure (more elderly people) and to its economic situation (more unemployment). But it was also due in part to medical habits that turned out to be more expensive in Wallonia than in Flanders.
. Since the publication of this book, there are other figures and the Flemish daily newspaper De Standaard wrote it in 2007 : Guy Tegenbos "Scheeftrekkingen in ziektekosten bijna weg" (Imbalance almost vanished). in De Standaard, April 10, 2007. - ^ a b Roland Willemyns; Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2002). "The Dutch–French Language Border in Belgium" (PDF). Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
From the late 1950s onwards, the economy of Flanders was transformed from one based on agriculture to one based on industry and trade, and the region experienced a rise in its standard of living. At the same time, the heavy industrial economy of Wallonia, formerly the wealthier portion of the country, gradually declined, giving way to a serious economic recession from which it has not yet recovered. In 1996 74.5% of the industrial gross added value was generated in the Flemish region, which contain 58% of Belgium's population. Consequently, the cultural and linguistic balance of power in Belgium shifted towards Flanders (Willemyns, 1992). The present-day social and economic imbalance between Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia is to be considered potentially disruptive for the continuation of Belgium's existence, since it requires a considerable amount of so-called 'solidarity transfers' from Flanders to Wallonia (for 80%) and from Flanders to Brussels (for 20%). Most of these transfers occur in the field of social security financing (De Boeck, 1999).
[full citation needed] - ^ a b "België moet blijven, maar niet zoals nu". De Standaard Online (in Dutch). November 9, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
- ^ Cendrowicz, Leo (June 30, 2010). "No Love Lost: Is Belgium About to Break in Two?". Time. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Steun voor splitsing België blijft relatief klein".
- ^ Footnote: Native speakers of Dutch living in Wallonia and of French in Flanders are relatively small minorities which furthermore largely balance one another, hence counting all inhabitants of each monolingual area to the area's language can cause only insignificant inaccuracies (99% can speak the language). Dutch: Flanders' 6.079 million inhabitants and about 15% of Brussels's 1.019 million are 6.23 million or 59.3% of the 10.5 million inhabitants of Belgium (2006); German: 70,400 in the German-speaking Community (which has language facilities for its less than 5% French-speakers), and an estimated 20,000–25,000 speakers of German in Wallonia outside the geographical boundaries of their official Community, or 0.9%; French: in the latter area as well as mainly in the rest of Wallonia (3.414 – 0.093 = 3.321 million) and 85% of the Brussels inhabitants (0.866 million) thus 4.187 million or 39.8%; together indeed 100%;
- ^ Flemish Academic Eric Corijn (initiator of Charta 91), at a colloquium regarding Brussels, on December 5, 2001, states that in Brussels there is 91% of the population speaking French at home, either alone or with another language, and there is about 20% speaking Dutch at home, either alone (9%) or with French (11%) – After pondering, the repartition can be estimated at between 85 and 90% French-speaking, and the remaining are Dutch-speaking, corresponding to the estimations based on languages chosen in Brussels by citizens for their official documents (ID, driving licenses, weddings, birth, death, and so on); all these statistics on language are also available at Belgian Department of Justice (for weddings, birth, death), Department of Transport (for Driving licenses), Department of Interior (for IDs), because there are no means to know precisely the proportions since Belgium has abolished 'official' linguistic censuses, thus official documents on language choices can only be estimations. For a web source on this topic, see e.g. General online sources: Janssens, Rudi
- ^ "Belgium Market background". British Council. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
The capital Brussels, 80–85% French-speaking...
Strictly, the capital is the municipality (City of) Brussels, though the Brussels-Capital Region might be intended because of its name and also its other municipalities housing institutions typical for a capital. - ^ "Citizens from other countries in the German-speaking Community". The German-speaking Community. Archived from the original on June 28, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
* "German (Belgium) — Overview of the language". Mercator, Minority Language Media in the European Union, supported by the European Commission and the University of Wales. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
*Leclerc, Jacques, membre associé du TLFQ (April 19, 2006). "Belgique • België • Belgien — La Communauté germanophone de Belgique". L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde (in French). Trésor de la langue française au Québec (TLFQ), Université Laval, Quebec. Retrieved May 7, 2007.{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Rudi Janssens (January 7, 2008). "Taalgebruik in Brussel en de plaats van het Nederlands — Enkele recente bevindingen" (PDF). Brussels Studies, n°13 (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
- ^ Edmundson, George (1922). "Chapter II: Habsburg Rule in the Netherlands". History of Holland. The University Press, Cambridge. Republished: Authorama. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
- ^ George Edmundson (1922). "Chapter XXX: The Kingdom of the Netherlands–union of Holland and Belgium, 1815–1830". History of Holland. The University Press, Cambridge. Republished: Authorama. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- ^ ISBN 0-399-11022-4.
- ^ a b c d Sciolino, Elaine (September 21, 2007). "Calls for a Breakup Grow Ever Louder". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ a b c Deam, Lisa. "Flemish versus Netherlandish: A Discourse of Nationalism". Renaissance Quarterly. "Quoted in Hasquirt [sic; error for "Hasquin" in bibliography] 22: 'En Belgique, il y a des partis et des provinces, et point de nation. Cornme une tente dressee pour une nuit, la monarchie nouvelle, apres nous avoir abrites contre la ternpete, disparaitra sans laisser de traces.' All English translations of French quotations are my own."
- ^ Roland Willemyns, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2002). "The Dutch–French Language Border in Belgium" (PDF). Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
For almost a century (and in spite of the deficient methodology) there were, with the exception of Brussels, no significant differences from one census to another (Martens, 1975), a fact demonstrating the remarkable stability of Belgium's linguistic communities.
- Université Libre de Bruxelles. Archived from the originalon January 11, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
Mais [le flamand] ... ne devait plus être compris d'une large partie de la population en 1761, quand il fallut traduire en français le réglement de la confrérie de Saint-Sébastien, au terme d'un processus d'assimilation enclenché par les armées de Louis XIV. [Transl.: However it is certain that [Flemish] ... could not be spoken by a large part of the population in 1761 when the reglement of the brotherhood of Saint Sebastian had to be translated in French, after an assimilation process initiated by the armies of Louis XIV]
- Université Libre de Bruxelles. Archived from the originalon January 11, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
Le curé d'Opheylissem, ou d'Hélécine, note ... vers 1740–45: 'Les actes de loi furent mis en français seulement en 1730 ou 1733.' [Transl.: The curate of Oheylissem or Hélécine writes around 1740–45: 'the legal acts were written in French in 1730 or 1733 only.']
- Université Libre de Bruxelles. Archived from the originalon January 11, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
Une immigration flamande intensive détachera l'entité de la Wallonie. [Transl.: An intensive Flemish immigration detached the commune of Wallonnia]
- ISBN 3-87118-597-3.
Zur prestige Sprache wurde in den Spanischen Niederlanden ganz eindeutig das Französische. Die Vertreter Spaniens beherrschte normalerweise das Französische, nicht aber das Niedderländische; ein beachtlicher Teil der am Hofe tätigen Adligen stammte aus Wallonien, das sich ja eher auf fie spanische Seite geschlagen hatte als Flandern und Brabant. In dieser Situation war es selbstverständlich, dass die flämischen Adligen, die im Laufe der Zeit immer mehr ebenfalls zu Hofbeamten wurden, sich des Französischen bedienen mussten, wenn sie als gleichwertig anerkannt werden wollten. [Transl.: The prestigious language in the Spanish Netherlands was clearly French. Spain's representatives usually mastered French but not Dutch; a notable part of the nobles at the court came from Wallonia, which had taken party for the Spanish side to a higher extent than Flanders and Brabant. It was therefore evident within this context that the Flemish nobility, of which a progressively larger number became servants of the court, had to use French, if they wanted to be acknowledged as well.]
- ISBN 3-87118-597-3.
Die Bourgeoisie der flämischen Städte ging auch im privaten Bereiche mehr und mehr zum Französischen über. Die Kinder wurden im Kreise von Kindermädchen und Dienern aus Wallonien und Frankreich vollkommen französisch erzogen. [Transl.: The bourgeoisie of the Flemish towns were also increasingly, in the private sectors, using French. The children were brought up entirely in French, around nannies and servants from Wallonia and France.]
- ^ M.C.A. van der Heijden (1972). "Strevend Vlaanderen". Spektrum van de Nederlandse Lettekunde (in Dutch). Vol. 24. Utrecht/Antwerp. p. 7.
De Nederlandstalige literatuur raakte in het Zuiden na het begin van de 17e eeuw voor lange tijd zodanig in de versukkeling, dat zij zo goed als geen teksten voorbracht die nog nu enige belangstelling op kunnen wekken.
- ^ Roland Willemyns, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2002). "The Dutch–French Language Border in Belgium" (PDF). Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
In Belgium the constitutional notion of language border not only refers to the demarcation lines between monolingual territories but also to the demarcation lines between monolingual and officially bilingual zones
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- ISBN 978-1-85065-209-0.
- ^ "Beginselverklaring". New Flemish Alliance (in Dutch). October 13, 2001. Archived from the original on June 28, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.
- ^ "Belgium may separate" (PDF). The New York Times. August 9, 1912. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- ISBN 2-8040-2174-2.
(664 pages)
- ^ Maarten Van Ginderachter. Het Kraaien van de Haan (PDF) (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
de Waalse verbanning uit het centrum van de macht — tussen 1884 en 1902 zat er maximaal één Waal in de regering
- ^ a b "Belgium's embassies instructed to deny partition sentiments". USA Today. October 7, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ G. Geerts. "Nederlands in België, Het Nederlands bedreigd en overlevend". Geschiedenis van de Nederlandse taal (in Dutch). M.C. van den Toorn, W. Pijnenburg, J.A. van Leuvensteijn and J.M. van der Horst.
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- ^ J. Fleerackers, Chief of staff of the Belgian Minister for Dutch culture and Flemish affairs (1973). "De historische kracht van de Vlaamse beweging in België: de doelstellingen van gister, de verwezenlijkingen vandaag en de culturele aspiraties voor morgen". Digitale bibliotheek voor Nederlandse Letteren (in Dutch).
- ^ a b van Parijs, Philippe (October 4, 2007). "Brussels after Belgium: fringe town or city state?" (PDF). The Bulletin. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ Feki, Donya (November 29, 2007). "Jean Quatremer: a nation has been born—Flanders". Café Babel. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ a b Hans Heckel (December 1, 2007). "Was wird aus Eupen?" [What shall happen to Eupen?]. Preußische Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "Belgien: 249 Tage ohne Regierung - ZDF heute journal - ZDFmediathek - ZDF Mediathek". Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
- ^ Jean Quatremer (December 15, 2007). "L'appel à une "Belgique française" [Call for a "French Belgium"]". Libération (in French). Retrieved May 20, 2008.
[...]Daniel Ducarme [...] propose [...] que les francophones créent une «Belgique française», réunissant les régions de Bruxelles et de Wallonie, qui serait «associée» à la France ! [Daniel Ducarme proposes that the francophones create a "French Belgium", unifying the regions of Brussels and Wallonia, which would be "associated" to France]
- ^ Marc Sirlereau (September 6, 2010). "La fin de la Belgique, le PS ose le dire" (in French). RTBF. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
Dans le même temps, le PS sort du bois vu la tournure des événements pour évoquer la fin possible de la Belgique. En quelques jours, les barons du parti, de Philippe Moureaux à Laurette Onkelinx, en passant par Jean-Claude Marcourt et Rudy Demotte, ont tous dit haut et fort, et très clairement que la fin du pays était possible et, surtout, que les francophones devaient s'y préparer.
- ^ "De PS spreekt oorlogstaal" (in Dutch). De Morgen. September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
'We moeten alle scenario's overwegen, dus ook de splitsing van het land.' Niet zonder enig gevoel voor dramatiek stelde PS-boegbeeld Laurette Onkelinx de tegenstellingen op scherp.
- ^ Martin Banks (September 6, 2010). "Fears over 'break up' of Belgium". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that because if we split, it will be the weakest who will pay the heaviest price. On the other hand, we can no longer ignore that among a large part of the Flemish population, it's their wish," Miss Onkelinx told La Deniere Heure newspaper. "So yes, we have to get ready for the break-up of Belgium.
- ^ Pierre Havaux (September 14, 2010). "L'après-Belgique à l'agenda francophone" [After Belgium on the francophone agenda]. Le Vif (in French). Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
« Même pas peur », réagit la Flandre, qui peine à prendre la menace au sérieux. Côté francophone aussi, on a de gros doutes. Comme au MR, sur la touche des négociations politiques : « Je ne crois pas à la sincérité des socialistes qui se sont exprimés de cette façon. Ils veulent faire peur aux francophones à un point tel que ce qu'ils accepteront par la suite apparaîtra comme une solution, un soulagement », décode le sénateur Richard Miller.
- ^ "Communiqué de presse — 26.11.2007". Parti Socialist. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
Il faudra notamment répéter ensemble, entre francophones, que nous sommes opposés à toute scission de la sécurité sociale dans toutes ses branches (soins de santé, allocations familiales, etc.) Il faudra aussi répéter notre volonté d'élargir la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale afin notamment de donner un territoire qui relie directement la Wallonie à Bruxelles. [Transl:We, the Francophones, will all together have to insist on the fact that we are opposed to any regionalization of the welfare state in all of its components (healthcare, child benefit, etc.). We will also have to reiterate our will to expand the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region, in order to obtain among other things a territorial link between Walonia and Brussels.]
- ^ Joëlle Milquet (November 12, 2006). "Colloque du Cepess : " La Belgique à tout prix ? " [Transl: Cepess Symposium: "Belgium at all costs?"]" (PDF). Humanist Democratic Centre. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[...] nous sommes [...] contre la régionalisation de la sécurité sociale, contre toute avancée de l'autonomie fiscale et contre la régionalisation de la politique de l'emploi. Nous sommes opposés à la régionalisation de la politique de l'emploi et de la concertation sociale au niveau fédéral car elle signera la fin de notre modèle de sécurité sociale basé sur la solidarité interpersonnelle.[Transl.: We are opposed to the regionalization of the social safety net, to any progression of the fiscal autonomy and, to the regionalization of the employment policies. We are opposed to the regionalization of the employment policies and the social dialogue at the federal level for it would put an end to our social safety net model based on the interpersonal solidarity]
[dead link] - ^ "Le manifeste des réformateurs" (PDF). Mouvement Réformateur. September 1, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
La volonté de rupture des solidarités économiques et sociales entre le Nord et le Sud du pays, l'ambition d'affaiblir Bruxelles dans sa réalité de région à part entière et de grande ville francophone, les initiatives répétées visant à mettre à néant les droits culturels et linguistiques des francophones de la périphérie de Bruxelles et des Wallons des Fourons, l'ambition de créer un État flamand qui ait de moins en moins de comptes à rendre à l'État belge, tel est le projet nationaliste de la Flandre. Seul le projet de construire l'unité de la Wallonie et de Bruxelles au sein d'une Communauté française ... permettra de rééquilibrer les rapports de force entre Communautés au sein de l'État belge. Quelles que soient les visées institutionnelles de la Flandre, l'avenir de Bruxelles et celui de la Wallonie sont indissociablement liés. À cet avenir commun, les Réformateurs associent pleinement les Francophones de la périphérie bruxelloise et les Wallons des Fourons. [Transl.: The will to break the economic and social solidarities between the North and the South of the country, the ambition to weaken Brussels as a federal state and a big French-speaking city, the repeated threats to reduce to nothing the cultural and linguistic rights of the Francophones of the suburbs of Brussels and the Walloons of Voeren, the ambition to buils a Flemish state that would have less and less obligations with respect to the Belgian state, such is Flanders' nationalist project. Sole the project to build a unity out of Brussels and Wallonia within the French Community [of Belgium] shall enable to reequilibrate the balance of forces between the Communities within the Belgian state. Whatever the institutional reforms promoted by Flanders, Brussels' and Wallonia's future are undissociably linked. To this common future, the Réformateurs plainly associate the Francophones of Brussels' periphery and the Walloons of Voeren]
- ^ "Une circonscription unique pour élire des parlementaires à l'échelle de la Belgique". Écolo. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
Écolo estime qu'il convient de moderniser les institutions de la Belgique, afin de renforcer le système fédéral. Écolo propose notamment l'élection d'une partie des parlementaires fédéraux sur base d'une circonscription électorale nationale.
- ^ Footnote: 30% of the Dutch-speaking members of the federal parliament and 17% of the federal parliament.
- ^ "The Manifesto of the Vlaams Belang". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
The Vlaams Belang strives for the secession of Flanders from the artificial Belgian state. Our aim is to dissolve Belgium and establish an independent Flemish state. This state will be sovereign over the Dutch-speaking territory of Belgium and will include Brussels, which is the capital of Flanders but will have a separate linguistic status.
- ^ "Confederalisme, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie" (in Dutch). January 13, 2016.
- ^ "Programma" (PDF). Lijst Dedecker. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- six Brussels outlying communes and the German-speaking communes, they would of course be consulted on their status by means of a referendum under international control.
- ^ * "Volledige programma van B.U.B. in PDF" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
De Belgische Unie — Union belge (B.U.B.) is een centrumpartij, opgericht in 2002, die als einddoel heeft de creatie van een nieuw unitair België, d.w.z. met één regering en één parlement, zonder gewesten en gemeenschappen, met provinciale decentralisatie op basis van 9 provincies (wat de hereniging van Brabant inhoudt), behoud van de taalwetten en een actieve politiek van tweetaligheid.
- "Le programme complet du B.U.B. en pdf" (in French). Archived from the original on July 20, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
L'Union belge (Belgische Unie – B.U.B.) est un parti centriste, créé en 2002, qui a pour but final la création d'une nouvelle Belgique unitaire, c'est-à-dire avec un seul gouvernement, un seul parlement sans communautés ni régions, avec une décentralisation sur la base de 9 provinces (ce qui implique la réunification du Brabant) avec le maintien des lois linguistiques et une politique active de bilinguisme. [Transl.: The Belgian Union is a centrist party, founded in 2002, which has as final aim the building of a new unitary Belgium, i.e. with a single government, a single parliament without communities nor regions, with a decentralisation on the basis of the 9 provinces (which implies the reunification of the province of Brabant) maintaining the linguistic laws and with an active politic promoting bilingualism]
- "Le programme complet du B.U.B. en pdf" (in French). Archived from the original on July 20, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Programme du Front National" (in French). Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
7. Maintenir l'unité de la Belgique dans le cadre fédéral actuel. Le Front National propose à tous les Belges une paix communautaire. Il souligne les liens culturels et historiques qui, depuis des siècles, unissent nos populations de langues germanique et romane. L'unité de la Belgique lui assure, au niveau international, un poids politique et économique que nous entendons préserver. [Transl.: 7. Maintaining the Unity of Belgium within the current federal system. The National Front offers all Belgians a community peace. It underlines the cultural and historical links which, for centuries, unify our folks of Germanic and Roman languages. The unity of Belgium provide, at international level, a political and economic weight that we intend to preserve.]
- ^ "Website of the Walloon minister Eliane Tillieux". Archived from the original on May 15, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- ^ "Blog of the Walloon minister Jean-Claude Marcourt". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- ^ "Anticapitalisme à tous les étages" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
- ^ Footnote: During the government formation periods, the king nominates the governmental formateurs and informateurs and therefore acts as a mediator between the different political parties. However it is not clear whether the head of the Belgian state acts on his own initiative or only on the advice of senior politicians, of the caretaker government or of the Council of the Crown.
- ^ "De lijdensweg van de regering-Leterme" (in Dutch). VRT web site deredactie.be. December 19, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2011. "Op 21 juli, de nationale feestdag, giet Leterme dan nog eens ongewild olie op het vuur door de Marseillaise te zingen in plaats van de Brabançonne".
- ^ Traynor, Ian (September 17, 2007). "Belgium? Something that does not exist". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ "Political crisis pushes Belgium closer to partition". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
- Marie-Claire Houart's petition calling for unity has been signed by 140,000 Belgians in recent weeks. It urges politicians "to stop wasting money at our expense on quarrels that interest only a small minority."
- ^ Charter, David (November 19, 2007). "People's power on march to save Belgium". The Times. London. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
The demonstration grew out of a website petition to "Save Belgium", which attracted 140,000 signatures in three months. Although about 35,000 marched yesterday, it was still a small percentage of the 10.5 million population.
- ^ "Kamer stemt splitsingsvoorstel België weg". De Standaard Online (in Dutch). November 22, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- Belgian Chamber of Representatives. November 6, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep. November 22, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- Vrtnieuws.net(in Dutch). November 22, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- ^ "Flanders-Netherlands: a new Lowlands?". Expatica. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
Some 45% of Dutch nationals would welcome a merger between the Netherlands and the Flemish community in Belgium, according to polling agency Maurice de Hond.
- ^ "2 Néerlandais sur 10 pour le rattachement de la Flandre aux Pays-Bas". RTL (in French). September 11, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
- ^ "Twee op de tien wil Vlaanderen bij Nederland". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). September 11, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
- ^ "Les Français majoritairement pour le rattachement de la Wallonie [Transl.: A majority of the French support union of Wallonia with France]". Le journal du dimanche au quotidien. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2007.
Vous personnellement, en cas d'éclatement de la Belgique, seriez-vous favorable ou pas favorable au rattachement de la Wallonie, c'est-à-dire des provinces francophones, à la France? 44%, Plutôt favorable; 18%, Plutôt pas favorable; 23%, Pas du tout favorable; 5%, Ne se prononce pas; 10%, Tout à fait favorable. Étude réalisée du 8 au 9 novembre [2007] auprès d'un échantillon de 958 personnes, représentatif de la population française âgée de 18 ans et plus. [Transl.: To you personally, in case of splitting of Belgium, would you be favourable or not favourable to the unification of Wallonia, that is to say of the [Belgian] French-speaking provinces, to France? 44% somewhat favourable; 18% Rather not favourable; 23% In no way favourable; 5% No opinion; 10% Strongly favourable. Survey conducted on November 8–9 from a sample of 958 persons, representative of the French adult population.]
- ^ "Sarkozy soutient l'unité [Sarkozy supports unity]". Libération. December 15, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2008.
Nicolas Sarkozy: "La position de la France est que la Belgique ... surmonte ses difficultés. Nous ne voulons en aucun cas interférer." [The position of France is that Belgium should overcome its difficulties. We do not want to interfere under any circumstances.]
- ^ Laure Equy (November 28, 2007). "L'inquiétude des voisins français". Libération. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
Une affaire «belgo-belge», tranche Poniatowski :«On ne doit pas intervenir, c'est un État de droit.» [...] Quant à la solution, saugrenue, d'un rattachement de la Wallonie à la France en cas d'implosion, elle est vite balayée. Retour d'une «vieille tradition napoléonienne» pour l'eurodéputé Jean-Louis Bourlanges, «perspective absurde et vertigineuse», juge Moscovici. Et lâche Lazaro : «Qui est-on pour dire vous n'êtes pas bien chez vous, venez chez nous ! ?»
[An "inner Belgian" affair, said Ponitowski: "We cannot intervene, this is a state governed by law." [...] The strange solution of a union with France in case of implosion is quickly swept aside. This would be a come back of an "old Napoleonic tradition" for the MEP Jean-Louis Bourlanges, "an absurd and vertiginous perspective", declares Moscovici. Lazaro said: "Who are we to say 'you are not all-well at home, please come home to us!'?"] - ^ "Unity at stake in Belgium vote – Europe". Al Jazeera English. June 13, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- ^ "1/3 des Wallons prêts à une scission" [1/3 of the Walloons ready to a partition]. Le Figaro (in French). AFP. September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
- ^ "Een op de drie Franstaligen wil eigen staat voorbereiden" [One of three Francophones is willing to prepare an independent state]. Gazeet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Albert Schoenauen (September 13, 2010). "Flamen wollen keine Spaltung, Frankophone denken an Plan B". BRF online (in German).
- ^ "La Belgique unitaire fait rêver quatre Belges sur dix" [4 Belgians out of 10 dream at unitary Belgium]. La Libre Belgique (in French). September 25, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "Les Wallons pour une fédération avec Bruxelles en cas de scission" [The Walloons support a federation with Brussels in case of a partition]. La Libre Belgique (in French). September 26, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ "Elio Di Rupo précise sa vision du plan B". La Meuse (in French). October 10, 2010.
En cas de volonté d'indépendance de la population flamande, il faudra demander aux francophones s'ils souhaitent une Belgique composée de la Wallonie et de Bruxelles, et demander leur choix aux habitants des six communes à facilités, a indiqué dimanche le président du PS Elio Di Rupo sur les plateaux de la RTBF et de RTL-TVi, répétant qu'il ne souhaitait pas ce scénario.
- ^ "Clarificateur: Elio Di Rupo précise sa vision du plan B" (in French). RTLinfo. Belga. October 10, 2010.
- ^ Alexander Homann (October 11, 2010). "Die Presseschau von Montag, dem 11. Oktober 2010". BRF Online (in German).
- ^ a b Martin Buxant (October 23, 2010). "Ne pas changer de nationalité, c'est capital". La Libre Belgique (in French).
- ^ Francis Van de Woestyne (October 30, 2010). "Une Belgique amputée de la Flandre ? Pas si simple". La Libre Belgique (in French).
- ^ Edgard Baeckeland; Guy Bertrand; Willy Burgeon; Jean-Alexis D'Heur; Jules Gheude; Marc Hansen; Jean-Sébastien Jamart; Jean-Luc Lefèvre; Jean Lerusse; Michel Pieret; Jean-François Renwart (August 16, 2010). "Un plan B pour Elio Di Rupo". Le Soir.
- ^ Olivier Mouton (September 12, 2010). "Voici l'Etat Wallonie-Bruxelles…". Le Soir (in French).
External links
- Belgique, vers la fracture? (ARTE, French)
- Zerbricht Belgien? (ARTE, German)
- Belgium, from Model to Case Study for Conflict Resolution, report published on 2011-02-01 by the United States Institute of Peace.
- Hasquin, Hervé. Historiographie et politique: Essai sur l'histoire de Belgique et la Wallonie. Charleroi: Institut Jules Destrée. 1981.
- La Flandre, 28e membre de l'UE? by Jean-Sébastien Lefebvre on Slate.fr (in French).
- Time to call it a day : Sometimes it is right for a country to recognise that its job is done, The Economist, September 6, 2007
- The trouble with Flanders : Why Belgium’s unending linguistic disputes matter to Europe, The Economist, January 27, 2011