Will Yves Leterne break apart Belgian solidarity?
Yves Leterme, head of the Flemish Christian Democratic Pary (CDV), won the elections held June 10th, appears to be set to run the next Belgian government. His campaign promises to give more power to the regions worries Bénédicte Vaes. “Don’t say that [Flanders, where Leterme is prime minister] wants to split or regionalise. Say that it wants to make us more res-pon-sible. A positive word, very politically correct. A word which is not suspected of being able to break down solidarity. If they accept to be financially responsible, the Wallons and the Brusselois will have to be as effective as the Flemish. If not, it will cost them. Their social security will fall. … The Flemish have always held the reigns in regional negotiations. Every time they [the Wallons and Brusselois] get ripped-off.
