Belgium elections: Beginning of the end of a nation?

[frigidmagi]

CSM

[quote]Sunday's Belgian elections brought an unexpectedly big win for a Flemish separatist.

The result leaves the existence of Belgium as a nation – and its heavy debt load – hanging the balance.

Bart De Wever, a Flemish-speaking Belgian centrist politician who hopes his country will “gradually evaporate,â€

[fgalkin]

Do we really need the US to be unified? And what for?

More seriously, however, I am somewhat surprised by the outcome. I'm all for kicking Wallonia in the balls, as the francophones in Belgium have a history of being gits (as they do everywhere) and Flanders is on the receiving end of their gittishness. (For easier understanding of the Belgian situation, imagine if Canada parted from the United Kingdom by violent revolution, led by Quebec, and as a result, Quebec has a dominance in Canadian affairs disproportionate to its population, and after more than a century and a half, the English-speaking portion wants out)

That said, do we really need a far-right, Dutch-speaking shard of the former Belgium either on its own or joining with the Netherlands? Increased autonomy is good, and hopefully this will scare the francophones in changing their ways, but complete independence?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[frigidmagi]

Do we really need the US to be unified? And what for?

Seriously? Are you suggesting that the US has no impact on international relations and if the US were to be split apart there would be no changes? Seriously? Come on Fgalkin.

But you perhaps you thought I was voicing support for an independent Flanders? If so, not the case and I'll apologize if I gave that impression. Course that said, I'm not against it either, this being one of those situations where I think the people who actually live there would know better how to handle it then me. I just want it to remain peaceful but I think we can all agree that there is no chance of violence there.

That said, do we really need a far-right, Dutch-speaking shard of the former Belgium either on its own or joining with the Netherlands? Increased autonomy is good, and hopefully this will scare the francophones in changing their ways, but complete independence?

Honest question here, why do you prefer increased autonomy over union with the Netherlands or independence?

[fgalkin]

Do we really need the US to be unified? And what for?

Seriously? Are you suggesting that the US has no impact on international relations and if the US were to be split apart there would be no changes? Seriously? Come on Fgalkin.

Then you have your answer about Belgium, which hosts the headquarters of both the European Union and NATO, as well as being an imoportant economic center.

But you perhaps you thought I was voicing support for an independent Flanders? If so, not the case and I'll apologize if I gave that impression. Course that said, I'm not against it either, this being one of those situations where I think the people who actually live there would know better how to handle it then me. I just want it to remain peaceful but I think we can all agree that there is no chance of violence there.

Your "Do we really need Belgium to be unified? And what for?" did give me that impression, indeed.

That said, do we really need a far-right, Dutch-speaking shard of the former Belgium either on its own or joining with the Netherlands? Increased autonomy is good, and hopefully this will scare the francophones in changing their ways, but complete independence?

Honest question here, why do you prefer increased autonomy over union with the Netherlands or independence?

See above. Belgium is an important diplomatic, industrial, and trade hub, and splitting up the nation (artificial buffer state that it is) would do more harm than good. Autonomy should protect the Flemish from encroachment from the francophones.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[frigidmagi]

Then you have your answer about Belgium, which hosts the headquarters of both the European Union and NATO, as well as being an imoportant economic center.

To be honest I don't think a Czech-Slovena style divorce would change that much. Both groups would still be in the EU and NATO and from what I understand the economics wouldn't change over much, expect the Walloons would get poorer (which admittedly does more harm then good).

Also, to be honest, even if they left NATO, it wouldn't be a huge impact. If Germany left NATO it would be fucking disaster. Belguim? Eh. As far has I know no one has suggested leaving NATO or the EU or even asking them to move, have I missed something?

How do you think the economy will change if Flanders became a part of the Netherlands and Walloon became part of France?

[The Minx]

That's Check-Slovak divorce. The Slovenes were part of Yugoslavia, which was a lot messier when it came apart.

Nitpicks aside, I agree. Assuming that Belgium does in fact split, NATO and the EU would simply remain in Brussels, while the Waloons and Flemish would go their respective ways. I don't really see either community wanting to opt out of the international deals they already have, especially since they want to gain credibility as independent countries. The only real issue is their representation in the European Parliament, since that isn't proportional to population nor based on any kind of formula, but only on back room deals during expensive summits.

There will probably be few changes other than that the useless national government of Belgium is replaced by two national governments, both of which at least speak the same language as their constituents.


I don't think they will want to join France and the Netherlands, they just got their independence after all. But I might be wrong.