End of a nation? 'Get ready for the break-up of Belgium'

End of a nation? 'Get ready for the break-up of Belgium'

www.rawstory.com

BRUSSELS — A top Belgian politician warned the country's citizens on Sunday to "get ready for the break-up of Belgium," as King Albert II seeks to relaunch knife-edge coalition talks.

Leading francophone Socialist Laurette Onkelinx, considered a potential successor to party chief Elio Di Rupo, who gave up on negotiations with separatist Flemish leaders on Friday, gave her prognosis in a newspaper interview.

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Given the state of economic woes across the world this headline didn't particularly surprise me until I got done reading and realized it wasn't a matter of money so much as it was politics. The interesting part is that they mention that Belgium currently holds the EU Presidency until the end of the year, so if things are to go sour between the various groups represented in the talks I wonder what level of larger impact that could have in regards to the European Union as a whole?

www.rawstory.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Farewell and thanks for all the beer.

Seriously, I believe that Belgium will do fine even if it splits into two countries. A delightful place. It takes a visit to appreciate it.

I hope this is just hyperbole from this Walloon politician.

It would be a shame if Belgium broke up, as I think it's a great country that has been unified since the 1830s, but sadly, many there apparently have not got much of a national identity, but rather have a loyalty to the region they are from.

What would happen to Brussels if the country split in half ?

As I understand it, the capital's population is split half-and-half between French and Dutch speakers, so what would it's status be ?

Maybe it would turn into another ''international city'', without any country's jurisdiction ? That may be what the EU would like...

The western world is deconstructing at an ever increasing rate. Baling wire and packing tape can only hide the larger problems for a short while longer. For myself I am looking into one of several third world nations to retire in. I do not expect a bright and sunny future for the western world. Being realistic however I have the skills and motivation to make a new start in a new paradigm so what ever "perks" civilization seems to offer are not personally necessary. Only the hope of finishing out my life in contact with the wild earth.
N.

I thought for sure this was going to say USA before I scrolled down to read Belgium.

I'm guessing it wont be long.

This is pretty big deal considering that Belgium, with Brussels in particular is the most globalized city. Since it is the capital of the EU, this would actually be a bigger blow to the whole EU collective than we in the states maybe can understand.

Interesting I wonder how and if this would affect the
Bank for International Settlements or BIS?

Also, they've got a good young national football side, with quite a few players that are playing for top clubs, and I reckon they could be a major force in the next two, to four years, in European football !

It'd be a shame that the country's best team since '86, may be broken up into obscurity, by having to represent ''vlaanderen'' and ''wallonia'', independently.

Originally posted by Sherlock Holmes
It would be a shame if Belgium broke up, as I think it's a great country that has been unified since the 1830s, but sadly, many there apparently have not got much of a national identity, but rather have a loyalty to the region they are from.

Did you have as much sadness for Kosovo back 10 years ago?

Originally posted by buddhasystemDid you have as much sadness for Kosovo back 10 years ago?

I still have sadness for Kosovo, ten years on.

It's a shame that their state is officially in limbo, because of the ridiculous back-scratching, and counter bank-scratching, between the ''international community''. I fully back Kosova independence.


Did your post have a point, other than a forced analogy/logical fallacy, relating to one of my posts ?

That was a rhetorical question, by the way.

Relax kids, Belgium is not going to break up. The poverty stricken Wallonia is way too dependent on Flanders to keep its region running. Wallonia is a big burden to Flanders and the Walloons would be very stupid to ever let go off sugar daddy.

Originally posted by Mdv2
Relax kids, Belgium is not going to break up. The poverty stricken Wallonia is way too dependent on Flanders to keep its region running. Wallonia is a big burden to Flanders and the Walloons would be very stupid to ever let go off sugar daddy.

LOL.

I'm assuming you're being relative, when you talk about the ''poverty stricken'' Wallonia, or else, you're involved in petty nationalism involving both Belgian factions !

But who effectively controls Belgium ? The Walloons or the Flemish ?

And especially, who actually controls Brussels, outside of the EU...

reply to post by Mdv2


This is true. If any of them would want a split, it would be Flanders. They work hard for their money and are tired of feeding the "lazy" Walloons.



edit to add:
From Wiki (Wallonia) :

Wallonia now suffers from high unemployment and has a significantly lower GDP per capita than Flanders. The economic inequalities and linguistic divide between the two are major sources of political conflict in Belgium

[edit on 6 Sep 2010 by Hellmutt]

Originally posted by Hellmutt
reply to post by Mdv2

 

This is true. If any of them would want a split, it would be Flanders. They work hard for their money and are tired of feeding the "lazy" Walloons.



edit to add:
From Wiki (Wallonia) :

Wallonia now suffers from high unemployment and has a significantly lower GDP per capita than Flanders. The economic inequalities and linguistic divide between the two are major sources of political conflict in Belgium

[edit on 6 Sep 2010 by Hellmutt]

Flander would become a non existent country. Brussel is where all the money is made, and it will never join flander.


I'm 100% sure the country will break up, it's inevitable. The economic turmoil that is GOING to come will worsen it. The majority of the flander population wants a breakup (IMO because of language). And flanders have a reputation of being a bunch of bastards here....

As long as they keep the Chimay coming, I'm cool with whatever they do over there.

As a citizen of thy great EU I can say with the utmost confidence, that I have no idea where Belgium even is..

The politicians and such want to lump us all together and act like were one big happy go lucky family, but the truth is, the people in EU states don't give a damn what goes on in other member states -as long as it won't cost them anything (greece) ..

Originally posted by lynxlynx
As a citizen of thy great EU I can say with the utmost confidence, that I have no idea where Belgium even is..

If you really are a citizen of the EU, and you genuinely don't know where Belgium is on the map, then I suggest you purchase an international atlas.

If you are a citizen of the EU, and you do genuinely know where Belgium is on the map, then I suggest you stop trolling !

Meh, this is not going to happen anytime soon I would imagine. I live in Belgium and this is not major news nor is it anything new. Maybe it will split and then maybe not there is more than just being seperate states at stake. Not being a native resident of Belgium though means it is hard to truly judge peoples real sentiments. I sometimes wonder if the two sides would be better split but then again they have already made that distinction themselves really.

edit: It probably is big news, maybe I am just desensitized to it now.


[edit on 6-9-2010 by pazcat]