The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration was interviewed by Christophe Deborsu on the program C’est pas tous les jours on Sunday on RTL TVI. Sammy Mahdi, from the CD&V party (Flemish Christian Democrats) was questioned in particular regarding learning Dutch in Wallonia. Should it be made compulsory in schools, as is the case for French in Flanders?
Just before the interview, the program aired a few interviews with residents interviewed in Namur. “I don’t really like the Dutch language. It’s ugly“, a young woman tells us. We ask her what she would say if Dutch were compulsory.”No no no. English is already required. So why oblige English and Dutch. It’s used in some countries, but not in Belgium… Finally in Belgium yes, but not for me. I do not likes,” she replied.
Other interviewees, however, acknowledged that not speaking Dutch held them back in their careers.
Christophe Deborsu: What do you answer? Should Dutch really be compulsory in Wallonia? Which is not the today.
Sammy Mahdi: Dutch is a very beautiful language (note: sentence pronounced in Dutch). And French is too. Compared to that, yes. We live in a state, a country where we still have to try to understand each other. We must not forget Flemish concerns either. We are a region that may be in the majority in Belgium, but from a linguistic point of view in Europe, we are very, very much in the minority. So often, the Fleming finds it important that the other learns his language. It is often a question of respect too. It goes both ways. I also find that in Flanders, knowledge of French is deteriorating. There is really an importance if we really want to form this country. We can talk regarding federalising, how much money the State can give to the regions… But it all starts with respect for learning the other’s language. And I really find it a lack of respect that on the French-speaking side the political world does not decide to oblige the Dutch language in French-speaking schools.
