Belgium splits - only on TV · 2006-12-15 11:59
Yesterday the Francophone station in Belgium interrupted regular programming with a news report, that the Dutch-speaking half of the nation has declared independence from the French speakers, informs Euronews.
The mock bulletin provoked outrage in both halves of the country. The prime minister Guy Verhofstadt’s office described it as a “misplaced joke”.
The station told, Belgium was going to split as the Parliament of Flanders had just voted for secession. King Albert II was reported to flee the country. Some senior politicians from both sides, Flemish or French speaking, gave interviews.
Only much later the TV company revealed that the reports were fictional. RTBF’s head of news, Yves Thiran, said he had hoped to increase debate six months ahead of a general election.
“Up until now, the debate has been confined to academic and political circles. We want a more public debate,” he said.
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