 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in French. (January 2014)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Rattachism (French:Rattachisme,IPA:[ʁataʃism]ⓘ, "reattach-ism") orReunionism (Réunionisme,IPA:[ʁeynjɔnism]ⓘ, "reunion-ism") is a political ideology which calls for theFrench-speaking part of Belgium orWallonia to secede fromBelgium and become part ofFrance.Brussels, which is majority French-speaking but enclaved inFlanders, may be included within this ideology; as may the six Flemishmunicipalities with language facilities for French-speakers around Brussels. It can be considered a French-speaking equivalent ofGrootneerlandisme (or, historically,Orangism) in Flanders.[1]
The Rattachist ideology is associated with a faction of theWalloon Movement and is advocated by the political partiesWalloon Rally andWallonia–France Rally. Neither presently have any parliamentary seats.
The term "rattachism" derives from French rattacher 'reattach', indicating a reunification of what has been separated. This looks back to the former unity of the "French period" (1794–1815).
Present-day Belgium was conquered in 1795 by theFrench Republic during theFrench Revolutionary Wars. It was annexed to the Republic, which later became theNapoleonic Empire. After theBattle of Waterloo (1815), Wallonia became part of theKingdom of the Netherlands under KingWilliam of Orange.[2] Following the 1830Belgian Revolution, Wallonia became a part of theKingdom of Belgium.[3]
Following the Belgian Revolution, a minority of Walloons called for unification with France.[4] Four newspapers that supported unification wereLe Journal de Verviers,Le Journal de la province de Liège,L'Industrie andL'Éclaireur. At this time Rattachists inVerviers were a majority.[5] Rattachists argued that in order to preserve their economic prosperity they must unite with France, and that Wallonia as a region wasculturally French.[4] TheRegent of Belgium,Érasme-Louis Surlet de Chokier, was a supporter in this period, as wasCharles de Brouckère,Charles Rogier andAlexandre Gendebien.[4][5] After the German PrinceLeopold I becameKing of Belgium in 1831, the Rattachists' hopes of unification were dashed.[4]
In 1968,President of France andWorld War II heroCharles de Gaulle stated that "If one day a political authority representative of Wallonia were to approach France officially, that day we would respond favourably, with full hearts, to a request that appeared legitimate".[6]
A November 2007 poll published by French newspaperLa Voix du Nord found about 54% of French respondents support unification with Wallonia. A 2008 poll found support at 60% among respondents.[7]
A 2010Institut français d'opinion publique (IFOP) poll found that if theBelgian political crisis led to the splitting up of Belgium, 66% of the French respondents would support the unification of Wallonia withFrance. IFOP has reported that support for unification with France has been rising since 2007.[8]
Modern-day French politicians such asMarine Le Pen,Jean-Luc Mélenchon,Éric Zemmour,Jean-Pierre Chevènement,Nicolas Dupont-Aignan andJacques Myard have all voiced support for Rattachism. EconomistJacques Attali also supports it.[9][incomplete short citation][10] Past politicians have also supported it, the most important of which being former PresidentCharles de Gaulle.[11]
Another IFOP poll taken in 2010 during the Belgian political crisis found that 32% of Walloons surveyed would support unification if Belgium splits up.[12]
Walloon politicians who have at some point voiced support for the idea areDaniel Ducarme,Jean Gol,Claude Eerdekens andRobert Collignon [fr].[13]