“It is thanks to the Défi questions that we still have a relatively reliable indication of the distribution between French-speakers and Dutch-speakers in Brussels and the Brussels periphery”while the last linguistic census in Belgium dates from 1947, comments Mr. De Smet. “The results are clear and show a stabilization, even an increase in the French-speaking presence, even if we all know that French is a kind of lingua franca (vehicular language, Editor’s note) in Brussels. Some people do not speak French or Dutch correctly, but will use French which is by far the dominant language in the capital.”
Knowledge of French is decreasing
Professor Patrick Deboosere (VUB), a specialist in Brussels demography, believes that the figures mentioned in the parliamentary responses are representative of reality. “It has been suspected for several years that there are around 10% Dutch speakers in Brussels.”
Lack of census, “it is very difficult to have a precise figurehe elaborates. For example, there are many mixed couples in Brussels; it is not clear which language they choose for their joint tax declaration. There is also a growing population who are neither French nor Dutch speakers and who will instead submit their declaration in French.”
gullAt home, young people may speak Arabic, Portuguese or Spanish. But they go to school in Dutch and speak French with friends.
Moreover, according to the latest Brio “Linguistic Barometer” (Brussels Information, Documentation and Research Center) from the VUB, published in May 2024, knowledge of both French and Dutch is declining in Brussels, to the benefit of English in particular.
“Among young people, there are a lot of multilinguals. At home, they may speak Arabic, Portuguese or Spanish. But they go to school in Dutch and speak French with friendsexplique Patrick Deboosere. Brussels has evolved a lot in 50 years.”
Dutch-speaking parties over-represented
At the political level, we see that the Dutch-speaking political parties together collected some 17.1% of the votes cast in the Brussels regional elections on June 9, a result much higher than the weight of Dutch-speaking people in the capital. Professor Deboosere confirms the thesis according to which many French speakers voted for Dutch-speaking lists, and one in particular: Team Fouad Ahidar.
The massive vote of French speakers for Flemish parties reveals the flaws of the Brussels system: “An electoral apartheid that does not reflect reality”
“We can knowhe analyzes, by comparing regional elections with European elections and in certain municipalities (on the occasion of the local election of October 13, Editor’s note) where Fouad Ahidar did not show up. We see differences. There are indications that French speakers voted for him.” But that doesn’t explain everything, adds the professor. “There are still quite a few bilinguals in Brussels who find the political orientation more important than the linguistic regime.”
The weight of French-speakers in the periphery
The figures obtained by François De Smet also show a significant French-speaking presence in the six municipalities with linguistic facilities on the outskirts of Brussels (Linkebeek, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Wemmel, Drogenbos, Crainhem and Wezembeek-Oppem). In 2023, 63.6% of tax declarations were completed in French and 73.9% of new pensioners were identified as French-speaking.
gullWe have concerns about the Arizona negotiations. There are no Brussels residents around the table. I fear a state of weakness among French speakers.
“This shows the strong imprint of French speakers in the peripheryaccording to the federal deputy. These figures help us, at Défi, to develop our policies to defend the rights of Francophones, since we are the last to do so. This supports our current demands, such as the desire to allow municipalities with facilities in the periphery to choose their Region. (Brussels or Flemish, Editor’s note) or the preservation of the rights of French speakers.”
“The N-VA’s Brussels program aims to annihilate the existence of the Brussels Region”
“We also have fears about the negotiations of the Arizona coalition (N-VA, MR, Engagés, CD&V, Vooruit)concludes Mr. De Smet. There are no Brussels residents around the table. I fear a state of weakness among French speakers, who would give in for ease on things important to the people of Brussels, such as the status of municipalities with facilities, the future of federal scientific establishments, or the merger of police zones and CPAS…”
