Why on earth does nationalism have to be so stupid at times?! Some municipalities in Flanders have decided not to hold the European Parliamentary elections this year, unless an issue over the number of Wallonian and Flemish voters in the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde constituency is resolved. Only in Belgium could this happen! A petty local inability for two communities to live side-by-side, blocking European citizens from choosing who to represent them in a Parliament which has almost nothing to do with the perpetual break-up of Belgium.
I should stop the rant just now though, and compose myself. I can’t see how the refusal to hold the elections could really continue. One mayor claimed that:
“My council has passed a motion stating that we cannot organise the European elections because the Belgian constitution is not followed in this region,”
Well if they must pursue their policy of thoroughly dividing the country, then they probably do have a justified argument with the federal government, but surely that doesn’t release them from the constitution?
Wouldn’t it be lovely if sense could prevail, and people could just live happily, side-by-side without divisive nationalism?