A new type of conflict has emerged, which has to do with the way Belgium is organised. A little constitutional lesson: Federalism in Belgium means that the country consists of communities (Dutch, French and German speakers) and regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels). Between these entities and the federal state, there is no hierarchy. They are all equal in status and, in theory, peacefully co-exist.

Where this can lead to in practice became clear some years ago when the Brussels Region introduced noise level regulations that made it impossible for Brussels Airport – located in the Flemish Region – to function. Without hierarchy, there was no higher authority to arbitrate between the two. In the end, the conflict was only settled years later – in silence, after all the commotion had died down.

Recently, there were similar cases in which the federal entities found themselves at opposite sides. When the Communal Holding was liquidated just a couple of weeks ago, there was a bitter debate about who should bear the bulk of the costs involved: the federal state or the regions?

Last week, Charles Michel, the federal negotiator for the Frenchspeaking liberals, demanded that the regions should contribute more to the budgetary efforts Belgium has to make. His party not being part of any regional government obviously makes it easy to make such demands. He looked to Flanders first, it being the richest region.

Unsurprisingly, Flanders refused to make more cuts, seeing as it is the only region that sticks to budgetary norms already. We cannot be punished for that, minister-president Kris Peeters argues. However, the Walloon region, too, begged to differ with Michel, arguing that it is in dire need of money already.

Neither of these incidents boil down to Dutch and French speakers arguing. Rather, they are all conflicts between the federal state and its so-called federated entities. Fighting federalism this is called, where the peaceful co-existence seems to have been traded in for begrudging and adversity. Part of this is because different parties are in government at different levels. It makes people forget that all these levels represent the same people: us. And it turns our country even more into what Bart De Wever calls “a permanent diplomatic conference”.