Belgium Breaking Up?

The Economist’s Charlemagne declares Belgium to be a dying country and, for the first time, there’ve been no accusations he’s gone too far. “I have been criticised by Flemish readers for being sentimental about the end of Belgium. I have been attacked by French-speaking readers for failing to understand the strength of their case and the injustice of the Flemish case… For the first time, nobody has told me I am exaggerating.” Charlemagne claims the Flemish view of reality is that Belgium is made up of two societies, in which a thrifty, centre-right, Dutch-speaking north should no longer have to subsidise a poorer, welfare addicted French-speaking, socialist south.”