Democratic Front of Francophones
Encyclopedia
The Francophone Democratic Federalists , is a Francophone
political party
based in Brussels
, Belgium
founded on 11 May 1964. Until 1982, the FDF dominated Brussels' municipal politics. It is led by Deputy Olivier Maingain
.
On the national level it was a constituent part of the Reformist Movement, an alliance of Francophone liberal
parties until 25 September 2011. On that day, the FDF decided to leave the coalition. They did not agree with the manner in which president Charles Michel
defended the rights of the French-speaking people in the agreement concerning the splitting of the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
district, during the 2010–2011 Belgian government formation .
The party advocates extension of the bilingual status of the Brussels-Capital Region to many currently officially Dutch
-speaking municipalities
around Brussels
(in Flemish Brabant
), where a majority of the population is French-speaking due to recent immigration from Brussels and Wallonia. This is strongly opposed by all Flemish parties, who say that these newer inhabitants should respect and learn the language of their new region.
This would expand the public services in French to all French-speakers who live in those areas. The FDF advocates also the dismantling of several measures hindering the French-speaking citizens of those municipalities from using French in their contacts with the administration. This is opposed by all Flemish parties, who argue that the linguistic border and federal structure is fixed since the state reforms
in recent decades, and that the Frenchification of Brussels
should not further itself into the Flemish Region
.
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
based in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
founded on 11 May 1964. Until 1982, the FDF dominated Brussels' municipal politics. It is led by Deputy Olivier Maingain
Olivier Maingain
Olivier D.A.Gh. Maingain is a Belgian francophone politician and president of the Front Démocratique des Francophones , a wing of the French-speaking liberal party Reformist Movement .-Biography:...
.
On the national level it was a constituent part of the Reformist Movement, an alliance of Francophone liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
parties until 25 September 2011. On that day, the FDF decided to leave the coalition. They did not agree with the manner in which president Charles Michel
Charles Michel (Belgian politician)
Charles Michel is a Belgian politician, and the son of Louis Michel. As of February 2011, Charles Michel is the Chairman of the francophone liberal party MR....
defended the rights of the French-speaking people in the agreement concerning the splitting of the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde is a Belgian electoral and judicial arrondissement in the center of the country, encompassing:* the officially bilingual Brussels-Capital Region, which coincides...
district, during the 2010–2011 Belgian government formation .
Policies
The FDF aims at defending and expanding the linguistic rights of French-speakers in and around Brussels.The party advocates extension of the bilingual status of the Brussels-Capital Region to many currently officially Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
-speaking municipalities
Municipalities of Belgium
Belgium comprises 589 municipalities grouped into five provinces in each of two regions and into a third region, the Brussels-Capital Region, comprising 19 municipalities that do not belong to a province...
around Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(in Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
), where a majority of the population is French-speaking due to recent immigration from Brussels and Wallonia. This is strongly opposed by all Flemish parties, who say that these newer inhabitants should respect and learn the language of their new region.
This would expand the public services in French to all French-speakers who live in those areas. The FDF advocates also the dismantling of several measures hindering the French-speaking citizens of those municipalities from using French in their contacts with the administration. This is opposed by all Flemish parties, who argue that the linguistic border and federal structure is fixed since the state reforms
State reform in Belgium
The term State reform in the Belgian context indicates a process towards finding constitutional and legal solutions for the problems and tensions between the different segments of the Belgian population, mostly Dutch-speakers of Flanders and French-speakers of Wallonia...
in recent decades, and that the Frenchification of Brussels
Frenchification of Brussels
The Frenchification of Brussels is the transformation of Brussels, Belgium, from a Dutch-speaking city to one that is bilingual or even multilingual, with French as both the majority language and lingua franca...
should not further itself into the Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
.