See Dutch version below.
Adriaan De Leeuw en Alexander Roels (master students, UGent), Jurgen Goossens (doctoral researcher, UGent) & Pieter Cannoot (academic assistant, UGent)
After the establishment of the language border, a special language regime has been introduced for certain municipalities. The residents of these municipalities with facilities located in the French or Dutch language area can communicate with the municipal administration in another language, Dutch or French respectively. However, this arrangement has led to numerous discussions between the Dutch- and French-speaking communities. The Flemish government has tried to end this conflict with the Peeters Directive. The directive determines that French-speaking residents of the Flemish municipalities with facilities have to reapply every single time to communicate in French. The French-speaking community was not amused and questioned this interpretation of the language legislation before (a Dutch-speaking chamber of) the Council of State. However, the Council affirmed the primary status of the Dutch language in these municipalities. Some mayors, nevertheless, refused to adopt this interpretation. In turn, the Flemish government refused to appoint these mayors. Supported by their municipal council, these ‘rebellious mayors’ were nominated repeatedly after every refusal of appointment by the Flemish government An appointment carousel was born and the sixth state reform has – hitherto in vain – tried to stop it.
