An MP of the seventies, an Octopus and the fear of poverty
It seems the deadlock in Belgian politics is getting worse. All the Flemish parties approve the compromise text that 'royal clarifier' (and N-VA-president) Bart De Wever made for king Albert II. De Wever said the text is his best offer and that he won't go lower. The French speaking parties are furious and reject the compromise.
The party council of the N-VA accepted the compromise, although it's a far cry from a Flemish Declaration of Independence. The compromise fits however in the so called 'Baert-doctrine' of the former Flemish nationalist party Volksunie, a political party of which the N-VA is seen as the heir.
Frans Baert was an MP for the Volksunie in the late sixties and early seventies. He said Flemish nationalists can agree with a state reform on three conditions:
1. It is a big leap forwards for a more autonomy in Flanders
2. Flanders doesn't pay an unreasonable price
3. It doesn't complicate or slow down next steps towards Flemish independence.
The other Flemish parties supported the compromise text. That comes as no surprise, as the text is an echo of the Octopus note of the Flemish government. In one of our previous blogs, we explained why this is important. The Flemish socialists (sp.a), christian-democrats (CD&V) and liberals (Open VLD) agreed with the Octopus-note some years ago. By echoing it, Mr. De Wever insures himself of broad support and can prove he isn't the extremist the French speaking politicians accuse him to be.
This means that the compromise text is Baert-doctrine-proof and Octopus-note-proof. This matters, as it strengthens a united front between the Flemish parties.
On the other side of the language barrier, there is a united front as well. Even the French speaking liberals, who were trying to force their way in to the negotiations by sweetening a possible compromise, now rejected the compromise text of Mr. De Wever. The fear of the French speaking politicians is that Wallonia and Brussels will impoverish if they become responsible for their own income.
It is not easy these days to be king of Belgium. The king now has a note of 'preformateur' Elio Di Rupo (PS) that shapes the contours of further negotiations. And he has a note of royal clarifier Bart De Wever that shapes the contours of further negotiations. The latter is a minimum for the N-VA-president, but unacceptable for the French speaking politicians.
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