Flemish Minister- President Emphasizes Autonomy in Independence Speech
On July 11, during the Day of the Flemish Community, Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele of the N-VA highlighted the ongoing struggle for greater autonomy in Flanders. His remarks, delivered in Kortrijk, underscored the need for enhanced self-governance to secure the prosperity of the Flemish people, reports 24brussels.
Diependaele stated, “There is still a lack of self-government to secure our Flemish prosperity. This is the result of structural flaws in the federal state structure.” He raised concerns regarding municipalities with language facilities where Dutch is under pressure, noting that residents can request documents in French, which has become a politically sensitive issue. He also addressed the shortage of Dutch-language healthcare services in Brussels.
“Even where our rights are set out in black and white on paper, attempts are being made to attack them.”
According to Diependaele, French speakers in Brussels are “desperately trying to form a government without a Dutch-speaking majority.” He asserted that this situation exemplifies the ongoing threats to their rights, reinforcing his promise that there will be no Brussels government without a Dutch-speaking majority.
“Federal policy must serve Flanders,” Diependaele continued, emphasizing the need for dialogue with federal and Walloon leaders to secure Flemish rights within the state structure and enhance provincial powers.
Budgetary Constraints and Financial Outlook
In his speech, Diependaele also discussed the topic of budgetary discipline. He claimed that the federal government is adopting a discipline model based on the Flemish system, pointing out that Flanders boasts the strongest finances in the country, comparable with those of other European nations. “Budgetary discipline is not an end in itself, but an anchor in turbulent times. This is how we steer the Flemish ship safely through the storm,” he noted.
“Budgetary discipline is not an end in itself, but an anchor in turbulent times.”
However, recent reports from the Social and Economic Council of Flanders indicated concerning news regarding the budget, forecasting a deficit increase to 753 million euros by 2027 and a debt rise to 1.65 billion euros by 2029.
