Leo Belgicus, workgroup for the reunification of the Netherlands

Formation of the federal government in 2007-2008 In 2007 the contradictions between the Flemish and the francophone politicians were grown so big that a federal government could hardly be formed. If Flanders wants a new reformation of the state, then it will have to make heavy sacrifices at the communautary consultations: the attachment of the six facility communities to Brussels and the appointment of the three francophone mayors who don’t want to respect the Dutch language.

Geert Wilders On May 14th 2008 Geert Wilders (PVV) did a call to Balkenende to contact his Flemish colleague Yves Leterme about the reunification of the Netherlands en Flanders. The Dutch and the Flemish people must decide over this through a referendum. He founds that the political problems in Belgium are the proof that it is better that Belgium stops to exist. A poll under the Dutch population about the quote of Wilders points out that 80 % is for a more far-reaching cooperation between the Netherlands and Flanders en that even 60 % is for a political reunification. Under the Flemish population there was a poll held by the VRT (20 % for) and some newspapers (± 40 % for).

Regional elections of June 10th 2009 At the regional elections of 2009 in Flanders was voted for parties who are for more Flanders while in Wallonia the same francophone parties stay on power who wants to consolidate the Belgian ‘solidarity’. Otherwise formulated: Belgium is divided into two countries and is disintegrating progressively.

Federal Belgium doesn’t work anymore The big contradictions between the Flemish and the French speaking in the federal government and the many changes of ministers have made sure that federal Belgium is completely blocked, the federal departments have become a mess and that the Belgian national debt rises quickly. In April 2010 the federal government has fallen on the BHV-question. On June 13th 2010 there were new federal elections. Through this elections has appeared that the gap between the Flemish and the francophones has grown very large because after 541 days, on Tuesday December 6th 2011, a new federal governement is formed. The federal and regional elections of May 25th 2014 make clear that the gap has become definitive: in Flanders the votes are rather rightsided and change is wanted, in Wallonia the votes are rather leftsided and status quo is wanted and in Brussels the leftsided and rightsided votes are pretty the same. Flanders doesn’t want a leftsided government and Wallonia doesn’t want a rightsided government. Belgium is going down the same road as Czecho-Slovakia.

Who are we? The workgroup Leo Belgicus is created by the initiative of a Dutch and a Flemish, who met each other at the reaction forum of a Flemish newspaper. After a few mail contacts, the decision was taken to create a workgroup. Our goal is that after the end of Belgium on the democratic way, by using the already on going conversion between both countries, which the successful ‘Nederlandse Taalunie’ has taken the example, the political integration of Netherlands and Flanders (through referenda) has been made open to discussion and to make it practical possible with the goal to rise the Netherlands and Flanders as a middle great member state of the EU.

What does Leo Belgicus mean? Leo Belgicus means the Dutch Lion in Latin. It goes about the cartographic convention whereby the Netherlands are being projected in the form of a Lion. The first time it was drawn in 1583 by the Austrian cartographer Michael Aitsinger (1530-1535? - 1598) and the theme has been copied many times afterwards. The most famous Leo Belgicus is the one of Claes Jansz Visscher of 1609. He also produced a lion card of the county of Holland. The lion was a many used heraldic animal in the Netherlands: Brabant, Flanders, Zeeland, Holland, Gelre, Hainaut, Limburg and Luxemburg had one in their coat of arms. Also the Union of the Republic of Seven United Provinces has chosen a lion, known as "Generality Lion", as weapon animal. Now a Dutch lion decorates the Knight Order and in the State Weapon of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg a lion is projected.

Which are our six main points?  Democracy, it means that the state is being governed by its citizens, is part of the essence of the Dutch identity. It is the highest and only desirable form of state, and it is our drive to the integration of Flanders and the Netherlands.  The breach of 1830 was a dramatic mistake that condemned the inhabitants of the South Netherlands to a catastrophical downfall. A democratic and vigorous government has been made impossible in the context of the Belgian state, because of the anti-Dutch essence of this state.  The Netherlands have beside a common history and cultural legacy, also a likewise government culture and mentality which can make a vigorous nation possible.  All steps in the direction in the cooperation and integration of Flanders and the Netherlands are welcome, but many forms of cooperation are based on the existing states Netherlands and Belgium, are doomed to being powerless. Flanders and the Netherlands must be able to negotiate directly with each other about an integrated form of state.  A confederal form of state (= two or more independent states who work closely together) between Netherlands and Flanders is the best form to make integration of the Netherlands and Flanders more easily after almost 200 years of separation. On the long run this must lead to a stabile decentralized unitary state, called The Netherlands.  Friendly and economic relations will be preserved with the non-Dutch regions of the Low Countries, like Wallonia, Luxemburg and the German Belgian Community, because in these regions there is no majority by the politicians and the inhabitants for a Confederation of the Low Countries.

Information For more information you can always go to our website: http://users.telenet.be/leo-belgicus (only in Dutch) or contact us at [email protected].