Will new PM Guy Leterme break up Belgium?!

[Major Tyler]

After the recent Belgian elections I'm starting to wonder if the Belgian Federation is going to be around much longer. With Flanders' growing economic and political power (and Wallonia's need for Flemish subsidies) I wouldn't be surprised if Leterme severed the link entirely.

I doubt it would follow the Vlaams Belang model (even though VB took 20% of the Flemish vote) but I wonder how such a breakup would occur?

Would the predominately francophone population of Brussels be granted citizenship in a new Flemish State, or would they become displaced Walloons by default? Maybe something in between? This is, of course, assuming Brussels became the capital of Flanders (it is within the border of the Flemish Region, afterall). I assume Namur would become the Walloon national capital city, as it currently is the regional one.

What relationship would a Flemish State have with the Netherlands? Though they share a language, they have stark religious and cultural differences. How would a Walloon State relate to France?

[Lizlove]

After the recent Belgian elections I'm starting to wonder if the Belgian Federation is going to be around much longer. With Flanders' growing economic and political power (and Wallonia's need for Flemish subsidies) I wouldn't be surprised if Leterme severed the link entirely.

I doubt it would follow the Vlaams Belang model (even though VB took 20% of the Flemish vote) but I wonder how such a breakup would occur?

Would the predominately francophone population of Brussels be granted citizenship in a new Flemish State, or would they become displaced Walloons by default? Maybe something in between? This is, of course, assuming Brussels became the capital of Flanders (it is within the border of the Flemish Region, afterall). I assume Namur would become the Walloon national capital city, as it currently is the regional one.

What relationship would a Flemish State have with the Netherlands? Though they share a language, they have stark religious and cultural differences. How would a Walloon State relate to France?

Being from Belgium I don't want to know. But I have a question, what happens with bilingual people huh? Because even though I live in Flanders now I do know I don't want to live there later. And Wallonia isn't an option either, I like my country like it is, even with all its problems.
Personally I think the French and Dutch people should start to act as grown ups and put their differences aside, otherwise nothing will ever work out! There are concessions to be made, by everyone!

Besides, the reason Belgium was created never was a good one

[Major Tyler]

But I have a question, what happens with bilingual people huh?

Well, almost all Flemish people are bilingual (or tri- or quad-lingual) so I we would probably have to go by birth or by whatever region a particular Belgian "feels" like they are from. I believe the status of the Bruxelloise would be the most difficult to determine if a Belgian split occurred.

[Lizlove]

Well, almost all Flemish people are bilingual (or tri- or quad-lingual) so I we would probably have to go by birth or by whatever region a particular Belgian "feels" like they are from. I believe the status of the Bruxelloise would be the most difficult to determine if a Belgian split occurred.

Well, I was born in Brussels. French is my native language. But my family has Dutch roots.
I really don't want to choose if the need should arise

[Major Tyler]

Well, I was born in Brussels. French is my native language. But my family has Dutch roots.
I really don't want to choose if the need should arise

Oh yeah. You're definitely in a unique situation from a heritage perspective.

[Lizlove]

Oh yeah. You're definitely in a unique situation from a heritage perspective.

You could say that again
I don't particularly like Leterme but maybe he could change some things, lets just hope it won't go too far. And he should accept some help from the French side. All in all I think we have to wait and see... all good things come to those who wait!

[RepliCartertje]

Don't worry about it I would say, I guess in about 6 months we will have a new elections Cause there is no way anyone is going to work with Leterme. Cause no one from the French parties want to work with him...and well you need one of them in the agreement so... and the Flemish parties aren't that fond on Leterme either.

If you ask me these elections were all about who will become prime minister and not about what they stand for, and lets face it Leterme can sell himself very good...

Honestly I must say I am political very intested in it. But this year I really hated it all. 'cause it was all about who is the best man and not about who has the most things to say and has the best program. It has become a media-hype. And honestly I don't like that at all



On the note will they ever seperate Belgium, I don't think so...I hope not. Even though a few parties want that, they can't do this. Cause our capital is to important for both sides. Honestly I hope they never do it, cause it will have big conceceinces not only for Belgium but also for Europe and the world. Don't forget the NATO and the EU is located here in Belgium... What will happen with them eh??

[Major Tyler]

Honestly I hope they never do it, cause it will have big conceceinces not only for Belgium but also for Europe and the world. Don't forget the NATO and the EU is located here in Belgium... What will happen with them eh??

I imagine that, assuming Brussels became a part of Flanders, that the responsibilities that the Belgian government had would simply be transferred to the new Flemish State.

I certainly hope they wouldn't simply kick out the EU and NATO.

Maybe Brussels could become a city-state like the Vatican.

[Lizlove]

Don't worry about it I would say, I guess in about 6 months we will have a new elections Cause there is no way anyone is going to work with Leterme. Cause no one from the French parties want to work with him...and well you need one of them in the agreement so... and the Flemish parties aren't that fond on Leterme either.

If you ask me these elections were all about who will become prime minister and not about what they stand for, and lets face it Leterme can sell himself very good...

Honestly I must say I am political very intested in it. But this year I really hated it all. 'cause it was all about who is the best man and not about who has the most things to say and has the best program. It has become a media-hype. And honestly I don't like that at all



On the note will they ever seperate Belgium, I don't think so...I hope not. Even though a few parties want that, they can't do this. Cause our capital is to important for both sides. Honestly I hope they never do it, cause it will have big conceceinces not only for Belgium but also for Europe and the world. Don't forget the NATO and the EU is located here in Belgium... What will happen with them eh??

Voting again? Ah damn!

What you say is true but on the other hand he doesn't care if people or parties like him or not, he still had the most votes.
Politics has been a media-hype for years now and really I'm not ashamed to admit I'm more interested in politics in France and the US.
It's all unclear and difficult here, there are no straight lines. I think it's very jumbled, and rendered more so because no one wants to work together.
And certainly not the French with the Dutch and vice versa.

If Belgium should be separated one day then I can assure you it will cause lots of trouble. It's gonna be ugly and the EU and NATO? They can be moved easily, simply because it would be bad for the EU and the NATO should they still be located in a country with lots of political problems.
Strategical retreat

[RepliCartertje]

Voting again? Ah damn!

Yeah well I think that eh Might not happen though, but I am not the only one who thinks that

What you say is true but on the other hand he doesn't care if people or parties like him or not, he still had the most votes.
Politics has been a media-hype for years now and really I'm not ashamed to admit I'm more interested in politics in France and the US.

See I think if you are interested in politic in general you for sure have to be interested in the politic of your own country. Cause yoru own country is also very important, it is where you live and where you spend you life in. You have to know what is going on. That is why I think it is stupid that people go vote and have no idea for who or what they are voting...they just vote cause they have to and that is why parties like Vlaams Belang get a lot of votes. Cause they know how to play on those people...

It's all unclear and difficult here, there are no straight lines. I think it's very jumbled, and rendered more so because no one wants to work together.
And certainly not the French with the Dutch and vice versa.

I agree on you here though...It is all so messed up in Belgium. Instead of making it into one thing...no you have things that are discussed in the Federal state then other who only the comunity discuss and stuff like that. honestly do people actually know who does what?? Cause I kind of do...but I don't know everything. what in a way is rather sad too

If Belgium should be separated one day then I can assure you it will cause lots of trouble. It's gonna be ugly and the EU and NATO? They can be moved easily, simply because it would be bad for the EU and the NATO should they still be located in a country with lots of political problems.
Strategical retreat

First of all it is a big IF...I don't see it happening. I think even though they want to in the Flanders, they know they can't, there is to much at state...
And I am sure EU and NATO will be out of here as soon as they get a glimps of that happening here though They aren't stupid...