Main focus of Monday, June 14, 2010

Separatist protest vote in Belgium

The Flemish separatists have emerged as the strongest party from Belgium's early parliamentary elections. In the Francophone southern half of the country the Socialist Party came out well ahead of outgoing Prime Minister Yves Leterme's Christian Democrats. Although the separatists' victory does not mean Belgium will fall apart, it poses a major problem to Europe, writes the press.

Le Soir - Belgium

The Flemish separists may have won the parliamentary elections but that doesn't mean Belgium will be divided, writes the daily Le Soir: "People were talking yesterday of an earthquake, an unparalleled event in the history of Belgium. And it's true, these are historic times. Nevertheless this incontestable victory has its limits, imposed by its very scale. The Flemish who voted for Bart De Wever and allowed him to accede to power in this way did not mandate him to slice the country in half - at least not yet - or to announce the immediate independence of Flanders. They are above all sending a loud signal to the Francophones and the traditional Flemish parties: reform the country and strengthen the regions. If their message is not separatist, it does express widespread exasperation and is clearly nationalist." (14/06/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Belgium
All available articles from » Béatrice Delvaux

La Repubblica - Italy

The victory of the separatists of the New Flemish Alliance NVA in Belgium won't divide the country immediately but will further weaken the central government, writes the left-liberal daily La Repubblica. It adds that this phenomenon affects all of Europe: "The continent's mediocre political class is paying at a national level for having undermined Europe's unity. In the past half century constructing the EU was the only strong political idea both among the Christian Democrats who invented the common Europe as among the Liberals who backed it and the Social Democrats whose support albeit tardy was all the more enthusiastic. As the project appears to have been buried, forgotten and suppressed, the traditional political forces now lack a credible and legitimate election manifesto. The disoriented citizens are rediscovering a perverse liking for their little native countries, separatism, populism and protest voting. With the result that countries whose shortsightedness has made Europe ungovernable are themselves becoming ungovernable." (14/06/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Elections, » Separatism, » Belgium, » Europe
All available articles from » Andrea Bonanni

Dagens Nyheter - Sweden

To draw a new border based on different languages and cultures would be the beginning of Europe's end, writes the daily Dagens Nyheter. In its opinion more tolerance is the solution: "Europe consists of a colourful mixture of languages and regions that often feel unfairly treated. To divide Belgium up and create a new and clear border along a language divide could be the beginning of Europe's decline. Instead the regions of the EU should be guaranteed adequate self-determination within the framework of the currently existing states. All citizens should also be encouraged to learn to understand and speak several European languages instead of only campaigning for their own. Europe doesn't need further fragmentation but more diversity and at the same time great political unity." (13/06/2010)

» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Belgium, » Europe

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