Council for a Community of Democracies

Flemish Separatists Win Plurality in Belgium
June 16, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell

A Flemish separatist party won 27 of 150 seats in Belgium’s parliamentary elections, last week, making it the country’s largest political party. Lacking an outright parliamentary majority, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) will now negotiate with rival parties for the chance to head a coalition government, according to the Associated Press.

Though N-VA chairman and would-be Prime Minister Bart De Wever has advocated for complete separation between Dutch Flanders in Belgium’s North and French Wallonia in the South, observers believe he will need to temper his message in order to form a government.

According to analysts, the majority of Belgians prefer that the country remain intact. "We did a study of 10,000 people and found 84 per cent want the country reformed, but not broken apart,'' according to Marianne Thyssen, a Dutch-speaking Christian Democrat.

The French-speaking Socialist Party came in second in last week’s contest with 26 seats, and its leader, Elio Di Rupo, will also be looking to form a coalition government. "Many Flemish people want the country's institutions reformed. We need to listen to that," said Di Rupo.

Flanders and Wallonia already operate autonomously in many respects, with independent urban development, environmental and agricultural sectors. Flemish politicians, against Walloon opposition, would like to see that independence expanded to include justice, health and social security administration. “Walloon politicians fear ending social security as a federal responsibility will mark the end of Belgium,” according to VOA News.

Language is not the only thing separating Belgium’s distinct regions: Wallonia lags behind Flanders economically, a major point of contention between politicians from both sides. Flanders has half the unemployment of Wallonia and a 25 percent higher per-capita income, and its politicians are tired of subsidizing their Francophone neighbors, according to VOA News.

Sources:
Al Jazeera – Belgium Separatists Win Election

Associated Press – Separatists Party Wins Big in Belgian Election

VOA News – Belgium Starts Bargaining for New Government