The Constitution has been amended several times in the Belgian Chamber and the Belgian Senate since 1968. The Belgian parties had different visions regarding the future of the German-speaking minority. This time, the Socialist Party in particular called for the assimilation of the German speakers. The Volksunie, a party that supported the rights of the Flemings, and also parts of the Christian Social Party, supported the German speakers, or at least to a certain extent accommodated their demands – this, too, against the background of the creations of East Belgian pressure groups, such as the Party of German-speaking Belgians (PDB).
The French and Dutch cultural councils were established in 1971. The German speakers also received their own council, the ‘Council of the German Cultural Community’. This was set up in 1973. However, it could only distribute subsidies, but not shape policy. In addition, the German-speaking Belgians were given a right that the Flemings and Walloons did not have: they were permitted to elect their cultural council directly, which happened for the first time in 1974.
After six state reforms, East Belgium has found its place in the federal state of Belgium. The German-speaking minority enjoys the same autonomy as the other cultural communities. According to the constitution, it is also part of the Walloon Region. In all regional powers, such as the economy, infrastructure, etc., the minority only has a limited say. Therefore, since 1980, a politically close relationship has developed with the Walloon Region, which oscillates between close cooperation and misunderstandings.
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![Michel_Pauly]()
Michel Pauly
Opinion:
On minorities in Luxembourg:
‘The debate on equal rights for various groups within the population is of existential importance in Luxembourg. A recent example of this was the 2015 referendum, in which Luxembourg voters were asked, among other things, whether or not all non-Luxembourgers of full age should be given the right to stand for election. Voting is compulsory for all adult Luxembourgers. To this question, as to the other two questions, about 80% of the eligible voters answered in the negative. Instead of showcasing Luxembourg’s cosmopolitanism, most Luxembourgers decided according to the principle of nationality: someone who is not a Luxembourger, regardless of whether this person now speaks Luxembourgish – the main feature of Luxembourg identity – should not have a political say in Luxembourg in the future either.’