Prime Minister Bart De Wever has stated that Federal Government services and institutions must use the term "French Community" in their documents and communications, instead of ‘Federation Wallonia-Brussels’.
The term "Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles" is used by Francophone political entities in Belgium to refer to the French Community. According to far-right Vlaams Belang MP Werner Somers, this terminology falsely implies that the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region form a single entity, suggesting Brussels is a monolingual Francophone entity.
Somers argues that this term is anti-Flemish and should not be used in government communications. He points out that, according to the Constitution, Belgium consists of three communities and three regions, and the so-called Federation Wallonia-Brussels is not among them.
Despite this, the Federal Government itself legitimises the unconstitutional term by using it in annual reports, royal decrees, and on the websites of some Federal Government services, which Somers criticises.
The Prime Minister confirmed that only the correct term ‘French Community’ should be used by federal institutions. Somers welcomed this clarification and expressed satisfaction that the Prime Minister would inform relevant communication officials within the Federal Government.
