I don't have access to the correct statistics right now, since I'm at university, but I hope I can answer some of the questions raised here anyway from the Flemish point of view.
Would Wallony be better off on its own or coupled with France?
That I think is a question the French and Walloons can answer better by themselves. The past decades Wallony has only stayed afloat by monetary support from Brussels and Flanders, but the past 2-3 years they've grown quite fast. Their main problem currently is that a huge part of the region is devotedly loyal to the socialist party, even as the corruption scandals keep showing up one after the other. However, political affiliations change.
So overall I think it would be wrong to underestimate the Walloons. But unless they work hard on their own identity, a
rattachement would be the better solution for them in my opinion.
As for Brussels.
Enlarging Wallony until it goes around Brussels, I will never tolerate. It is something not a single Flemish (nationalist or otherwise) will tolerate. Even the Green party who are so very close to Wallony otherwise, will never vote for such a move.
Brussels was originally a Flemish town called Broekzele. Because of inaction in the past we lost that already to a ruling class of French-speaking bureaucrats. The towns surrounding Brussels however are still Flemish. Those towns remaining Flemish is a
conditio sine qua non for any negotiations.
I myself am quite moderate concerning Brussels I must admit. As I see it, the city is lost to us anyway. So I don't care whether it becomes a third indepent part after the breakup of Belgium, or whether it becomes a part of Wallony surrounded by Flemish land, I don't care personally. Repopulation of the city by a Flemish majority would be an ideal, but it's not worth the price it would most likely cost in my opinion.
To me, what happens with a place like
Voeren is much more important than what happens with Brussels. In Voeren, the Flemish culture is still surviving. Even if it's nearly drawing its last breaths there.
I am reluctant to say what the majority of Flemish think on this point however. I would need to see it in statistics and polls. But I believe that not all too many care that much for Brussels anymore. The general census among the circles I hang out in is that Brussels is a lost cause.
Flanders? Indepent or a United Netherlands?
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As for Flanders, the article mentions a supposed excitement about a confederation from the Dutch. But it doesn't say a word on the feelings of the Flemish.
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The people who support a reunion with the Dutch are a minority among Flemish nationalists. Most fear that should Flanders join with the Netherlands, we will simply become the pawns of the Dutch.
And I -think- that a big part of the Dutch who wouldn't mind a reunion also haven't thought it through completely. Will they offer to give Flanders some kind of regional autonomy in the Netherlands?
If not, the Flemish majority will never accept. If yes, how do we know it won't turn out the same as Belgium? And also, if yes, would that mean that places like Friesland or Limburg who also differ slightly from Mainstream Dutch society would receive the same autonomy if they ask for it?
I believe there are only very few nationalist groups in Flanders who support an unconditional reunion.
Voorpost is the most vocal example. They lack the numbers to really make a difference though.
Having said that, I personally would prefer if Flanders and Netherlands would at the very least work very closely together. A reunion would be a possibility for me, but only with guarantees that we will be treated equal to any other Dutchman.