Vote by Flemish parties in Belgium criticised

Francophone parties were due to meet later on Wednesday to decide their next move, saying the vote was an unacceptable unilateral move. The socialist mayor of Brussels, Freddy Thielmans, had this reaction to the result of the ballot: “I think this declaration is very nationalistic. It’s very close to what the Flemish far right movement demands and I’m surprised that democratic parties follow that demand. I also think it’s the the defacto end of a shared living arrangement.”

Thielmans has also called for legal protection for Francophones living in Flanders, similar to the protection given to Dutch-speakers living in the Brussels region.

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