Former banker publishes book on independent Flanders

Remi Vermeiren, a former executive at KBC bank and one of the founders of the Warandemanifest, which, nine years ago, advocated the independence of Flanders from Belgium, has published a book on the subject.

Belgie: De onmogelijke opdracht (Belgium: Mission Impossible) sets out the essential steps and ultimate structure for Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels to become independent states and the costs involved in the transition.

Vermeiren said that it could be achieved with a simple majority vote in the Flemish Parliament without any need for a referendum. A successful vote in favour of independence would trigger a request to the other regions to recognise Flemish independence.

He argues that the country would then be split into three separate states – Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Every Belgian would be granted the right to choose any one of the three nationalities, so someone living in Ghent could, in theory, choose a Brussels passport, while a Belgian living in Liège could, if they wanted, adopt Flemish nationality.  

The former banker has calculated that the national debt could be split amicably between the three new states on the basis of population size, economic strength and the share of the national debt that they accumulated in the past. He sees Flanders taking on the lion’s share of 55%, or €203 billion, while Wallonia would assume 35% and Brussels 10% of the debt burden. That means Flanders would shoulder some €203 billion out of the current Belgian national debt of €370 billion.

But Vermeeiren realises that Flemish independence would reduce Wallonia to bankruptcy. He therefore proposes a 10-year transition period when Flanders would transfer funds to support Wallonia, adding some €34 billion to the bill.

He believes he has also come up with a solution to the ultimate mission impossible – how to deal with Brussels – aguing that the city could become an independent enclave under international law while remaining the capital of Flanders.

“Anyone who reads this thoroughly will discover that the figures don’t make sense,” comented Trends journalist Alain Mouton. “It would lead to an absurd situation in Wallonia, with a budget deficit of 19% and a debt of more than 200%.”