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21 January 2005
BRUSSELS – The largest French speaking political party in Belgium has threatened to walk out of talks on the future of a controversial city commune.
A parliamentary commission is scheduled to look into proposals to make Brussels-Hal-Vilvoorde a part of Flanders, denying French-speaking parties the right to stand for elections there.
Thierry Giet, leader of the French-speaking socialist party in the House of Deputies, said: “If the debate on the Flemish legal proposals is opened next Wednesday in the Parliament, for us it’s a casus belli, a breaking point. We will refuse to participate in the discussions. We could leave the room.”
Earlier in the week, members of all the political parties agreed to set up a working group to discuss possible solutions for the disputed commune.
Giet insisted the Parliament should leave the issue to that group, made up of regional and community representatives.
[Copyright Expatica 2005]
Subject: Belgian news