Welcome to The Flemish Republic
Why the Belgian federation should be dissolved and Flanders should become an independent state. |
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 Frequently asked questions
Why federalism isn’t the solution?
Eventually, universal suffrage made it possible for Flemings to translate their demographic majority into greater political power. Flanders’ economic growth, especially after the World War Two, increased the pressure on the Belgian establishment. After 1970 the Belgian state moved towards federalism. But instead of dividing Belgium into the two regions of Flanders and Wallonia, politicians divided Belgium into four linguistic areas (Dutch, French, German, and bilingual Brussels), three regions (Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels) and three communities (Flemish, French, and German). They said that this so-called ‘federalisation’ was a concession to the Flemish, who had been clamouring for more autonomy. But in reality the introduction of ‘parity (50-50) power sharing’ has effectively neutralised the Flemish majority. Despite Flanders’ economic strength, French-speakers retain their political dominance and the Flemish continues to subsidise Wallonia. Moreover, the complicated structure of the Belgian state prevents efficient governance. Flanders and Wallonia have different interests and different priorities. Due to the fundamentally flawed nature of the Belgian state framework, ethnic frictions will persist.
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