How tolerant is Belgium?

[_Jumper_]

It is one only three nations that recognizes same-sex marriages so it is obviously very tolerant of homosexuals. Is it tolerant of people of different races, ethnicities, religions, and immigrants as well?

[EX-CONservative]

1. Pretty much...

Except those of French heritage (Walloons) and those of Dutch heritage (Flemish) can't stand each other.

The two groups have separate parties too. There are French-speaking socialists, Dutch-speaking socialists, et.al.

[Mokito]

2. Edit

double post

[Mokito]

3. As a Belgian myself

I'll try to eplain some of the politics here.

Overall, you could say that Belgium is pretty tolerant. However there are, on both sides of the regional border, parties that advocate rascism, xenophobia, homophobia, in short; the whole typically RW-agenda. On the Flemish side there is the "Vlaams Blok" (Flemish Block) and on on the Walloon side, the Front National.
FN is rather small, but VB has grown quite large (about 30% of the votes, I regret to say). There is however something we call the 'Codon Sanitaire', which is a pact by all parties to not do business with the VB, but lately that is under attack by the more centrist conservative parties (pure electoral interest).

There are indeed internal struggles between both regional sides, yet most of this is purely political. It's not like we are expecting a civil war, or something like that.

Belgium actually has three governments. The Flemish regional government, the Walloon regional government and the federal government. The vast majority of strifes are about which dossiers (should) go to which goverment branch.

http://www.belgium.be/eportal/index.jsp

[brainshrub]

4. Thanks you for that great post!

Both my parents are Belgian. My last name is Van Heden and I make a great waffle.
If it's okay with you, I'd like to add you to my buddies list.

[Mokito]

7. No Prob

nt

[_Jumper_]

5. Thanks

:toast:

[_Jumper_]

6. Thanks

:toast: