Meanwhile in Belgium...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

(IMO, the Francophone solution, to annex the predominantly French-speaking areas of Halle-Vilvoorde to Brussels and then split the district, is quite reasonable, but the Flemish oppose it because it creates geographic continuity between Wallonia and Brussels, which the French-speakers could use to kill innocent Flemish babies, or something like that.)

It's psychologically important to have Brussels entirely surrounded by Flemish territory. Every year, Flemish Nationalists cycle round the city to prove this point (seriously).

[Joe Republic]

Thanks for the background, Verily.

So, unless I've misunderstood the earlier posts, Belgium cannot hold a legitimate election until the dispute over Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde is resolved?  That might take years, surely?

[Hash]

Thanks for the background, Verily.

So, unless I've misunderstood the earlier posts, Belgium cannot hold a legitimate election until the dispute over Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde is resolved?  That might take years, surely?

But not holding an election in 2011 would in turn violate Article 65 of the Belgian Constitution, which mandates elections every four years. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Meeker]

Could they have some neutral party draw the boundary? Like the Constitutional Court?

[Hash]

Could they have some neutral party draw the boundary? Like the Constitutional Court?

The President of the Constitutional Court is Flemish. Make of that what you will.

Plus, I don't think there are many solutions to the boundaries that are realistic.

[freek]

It's psychologically important to have Brussels entirely surrounded by Flemish territory. Every year, Flemish Nationalists cycle round the city to prove this point (seriously).

And while the Flemish Nationalists are cycling, Francophone Nationalists throw thumbtacks on the road.

[freek]

A majority of the Belgian Parliament wants early elections. Prime Minister Leterme gave a similar advice to the King.

Probable date: somewhere in June, maybe as early as June 13.

[Hash]

Fun!

Though it only spells worse troubles for Belgium if the Flemish nationalists do as well as polls seem to predict.

[Meeker]

How are they going to have an election with the boundary dispute unsettled?

[Hash]

How are they going to have an election with the boundary dispute unsettled?

It really calls for a Belgian joke.

[freek]

Belgium. Probably the reason why Belgian René Magritte became a surrealist painter.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He wasn't the only Surrealist to come from Belgium, either.

[freek]

He wasn't the only Surrealist to come from Belgium, either.

True. One of them is (or rather was) Prime Minister at the moment.

[minionofmidas]

Leterme's politics may be surreal, but I didn't think that makes him a surrealist.

[freek]

French broadcaster TF1 mixed up Vlaanderen and Wallonie:



And the map shown by Dutch broadcaster NOS was not entirely correct as well:

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

He wasn't the only Surrealist to come from Belgium, either.

True. One of them is (or rather was) Prime Minister at the moment.

In France, Belgian are famous for their 'surrealist' humor in general, and Belgians (those we know the most in France, Wallons, of which a lot of them have made famous carriers in France, dunno much about Flemish) like to paint themselves as 'surrealists' people as well, that's something beyond the 'surrealist movement' from the 20th century. The fact that their politics is kinda surrealist as well is just one more 'fun'.

[dead0man]

Belgium bans the burqa
link

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[ilikeverin]

Belgium bans the burqa
link

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Even the Flemish and Walloons agree that publically-enshrined Islamophobia is cool!

[GMantis]

Belgium bans the burqa
link

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Even the Flemish and Walloons agree that publically-enshrined Islamophobia is cool!

Considering the effect these things have on Muslim societies as well as the way they hinder Muslim integration in the West, one might better argue that they're Islamophile.

[GMantis]

French broadcaster TF1 mixed up Vlaanderen and Wallonie:



And the map shown by Dutch broadcaster NOS was not entirely correct as well:

The second map seems to be the one Flemish ultra-nationalists base their world view on.

[Хahar 🤔]

Belgium bans the burqa
link

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Even the Flemish and Walloons agree that publically-enshrined Islamophobia is cool!

Considering the effect these things have on Muslim societies as well as the way they hinder Muslim integration in the West, one might better argue that they're Islamophile.

One might, but it'd be stupid. The sentiments involved are obvious.

[Antonio the Sixth]

French broadcaster TF1 mixed up Vlaanderen and Wallonie:

LOL, that's pathetic.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

French broadcaster TF1 mixed up Vlaanderen and Wallonie:

LOL, that's pathetic.

Makes me think to CNN maps during 2005 French riots, haha, French cities were just upside down, I dunno which one they had put in Switzerland, maybe it was even Toulouse.

[freek]

Belgium poll by Vers l'Avenir

Vlaanderen:

N-VA 22.9%
CD&V 18.9%
Open Vld 14.8%
SP.a 14.2%
Vlaams Belang 12.5%
Lijst Dedecker 3.9%
Groen! not mentioned in the poll, but are probably at 6-7%.

Wallonie:

PS 32.5%
MR 21.1%
cdH 18.2%
Ecolo 17.6%
Front National 2.9%

Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde

MR 22.9%
PS 11.5%
N-VA 10.2%
Ecolo 8.6%
CD&V 7.7%
cdH 7.3%
Other parties not mentioned

[Hash]

Flanders hates French people more and more everyday, it seems. Unsurprisingly, Flemish people in BHV are even more anti-Francophone (just like the Flemings in Bruxelles, where VB used to the top the community poll).