End of a nation? 'Get ready for the break-up of Belgium', page 1

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Topic started on 5-9-2010 @ 06:34 PM by Helig

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.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Related News Links:
www.reuters.com
www.google.com

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Belgium faces split if Flemish win ballot
Belgium's government collapses

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 06:34 PM by Helig

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)

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 06:38 PM by buddhasystem

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.

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 06:43 PM by Sherlock Holmes

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...

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 06:46 PM by N.of norml

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.

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 06:57 PM by toolstarr

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

I'm guessing it wont be long.

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 07:49 PM by Desolate Cancer

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.

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 10:49 PM by SimpleKnowledge

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

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 11:18 PM by Sherlock Holmes

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.

reply posted on 5-9-2010 @ 11:57 PM by buddhasystem

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?

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 12:23 AM by Sherlock Holmes

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.

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 01:02 AM by Hellmutt

The following is my opinion as a member participating in this discussion.

Many of Nostradamus' quatrains mentions "the lion" and "the cock" in different scenarios. The lion could be the UK, but it could also be Flanders. The cock could be France, but could also be Wallonia (take a look at their flags, and you'll see).

"Lion and cock not too united"...

As an ATS Staff Member, I will not moderate in threads such as this where I have participated as a member.

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 01:53 AM 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.

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 02:01 AM by Sherlock Holmes

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 posted on 6-9-2010 @ 02:08 AM 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]

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 02:15 AM by ickylevel

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....

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 02:17 AM by LifeInDeath

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

reply posted on 6-9-2010 @ 02:32 AM 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..