Rattachism

Rattachism (french: Rattachisme, , "reattach-ism") or Reunionism (''Réunionisme'') is a minor political ideology which calls for the French-speaking part of Belgium or Wallonia to secede from Belgium and become part of France. Brussels, which is majority French-speaking but enclaved in Flanders, may be included within this ideology as may the six Flemish municipalities with language facilities for French-speakers around Brussels. It can be considered a French-speaking equivalent of Grootneerlandisme (or, historically, Orangism) in Flanders.

The Rattachist ideology is associated with a faction of the Walloon Movement and is advocated by the political parties Walloon Rally and Wallonia–France Rally. Neither presently have any parliamentary seats.

History and etymology

The "r" in "rattachism" (from "re-" and "attach"), indicating a re-unification, is in reference to a future unification being a repeat occurrence, after the previous "unity" which transpired during the "French period" (1794–1815).

Present-day Belgium was conquered in 1795 by the French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was annexed to the Republic, which later became the Napoleonic Empire. After the Battle of Waterloo (1815), Wallonia became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under King William of Orange. Following the 1830 Belgian Revolution, Wallonia became a part of the Kingdom of Belgium.

Following the Belgian Revolution a minority of Walloons called for unification with France.Jean Stengers, Histoire du sentiment national en Belgique des origines à 1918, t. I : Les Racines de la Belgique : jusqu'à la Révolution de 1830, Bruxelles, Racine, 2000 Four newspapers that supported unification were '' Le Journal de Verviers'', '' Le Journal de la province de Liège'', '' L'Industrie'' and '' L'Éclaireur''. At this time Rattachists in Verviers were a majority.Els Witte (trad. du néerlandais par Anne-Laure Vignaux), « La Construction de la Belgique : 1828-1847 Rattachists argued that in order to preserve their economic prosperity they must unite with France and that culturally the place was French. The Regent of Belgium, Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier was a supporter in this period, as was Charles de Brouckère, Charles Rogier and Alexandre Gendebien. After the German Prince Leopold I became King of Belgium in 1831 the Rattachists hopes of unification disappeared.

In 1968, President of France and World War II hero Charles 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".

Current support

In France

A 2008 poll published by French newspaper '' La Voix du Nord'' found about 60% of French respondents support unification with Wallonia. A November 2007 poll found support at 54% among respondents.

A 2010 Institut français d'opinion publique (IFOP) poll found that if the Belgian political crisis led to the splitting up of Belgium, 66% of the French respondents would support the unification of Wallonia with France. IFOP has stated support for unification with France had been rising since 2007.

French politicians Jean-Pierre Chevènement, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Jacques Myard, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Éric Zemmour have all voiced support for Rattachism. Economist Jacques Attali also supports it.

In Wallonia

Another poll taken in 2010 during the Belgian political crisis also conducted by IFOP found that 32% of Walloons surveyed would support unification if Belgium splits up.

Walloon politicians who have at some point voiced support for the idea are Daniel Ducarme, Jean Gol, and .

See also

* Greater Netherlands
* Pan-Netherlands
* Irredentism
* Natural borders of France
* Revanchism

References

{{Irredentism

French irredentism
Pan-nationalism
Political ideologies
Separatism in Belgium
Walloon movement