Another element involves extra money for Brussels. There is something odd about this. Brussels is the capital of Europe, of Belgium and of Flanders, but more money for this needy city is considered a demand of the French speakers. How has it come about that our three-fold capital has become almost like a foreign body in our midst?

One of the reasons is that Brussels, which is officially bilingual, is seen by many Flemish people as French speaking. This is even embedded in its structures, which offer protection for the Dutch-speaking "minority". Sociologically, French may be in decline, as other languages are on the rise in the capital, but it still serves as the lingua franca. Moreover, the memory lingers of Flemish people being discriminated against for language reasons.

Flemish politicians also resent the idea of Brussels as a full-fledged region. Since Brussels serves as capital to all Belgians, they feel both the Flemish and the French-speaking community should have a say in it. Strengthening the Brussels Region is therefore hard to swallow. Besides, with a stronger Brussels Region, Flanders would find itself up against not one, but two French-speaking entities, which is hardly consistent with the fact that the Flemish make up the majority of the Belgian population.

In recent years, the Flemish have also come to detest the way Brussels is organised, with a regional government and parliament, similar bodies for both communities,19 communes and six policing zones. How can anything good come from this administrational chaos? They feel Brussels should get its act together before it comes begging for more money. And how can a new federal government demand austerity from its citizens, while showering Brussels with money? As a result, some Flemish parties are uncomfortable with this issue, especially if they feel their voters will have to pay up.

Inevitably, extra funding for Brussels will be part of the final compromise (whenever that is reached), but you can count on the Flemish to make sure they get their money's worth, if only because that is just as Flemish as looking askance at Brussels.