Fewer Walloons good for democracy

In the coalition talks between Belgium's eight parties the Flemish liberal party is seeking to exclude the Walloon green party. That has less to do with content than with democratic principles, writes the Flemish daily De Standaard: "Otherwise there will be too little opposition on the Francophone side, and that is democratically unhealthy. However there is absolutely no reason to exclude one of the four Flemish parties. If that happens there will no longer be a majority for the government on the Flemish side. Years ago wise statesmen warned that this could create an explosive situation. A government that rules against a majority of Flemish representatives will quickly be branded anti-Flemish. ... What may seem logical from a democratic perspective to Francophone Belgium is not desirable at all from a democratic perspective for Flanders. That's the way things work in a country made up of two countries."

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