The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50words.


The measure that is being taken by the Mayor of Merchtem is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s division of power sharing. Belgium’s form of government is always being considered as an example of best community government and this measure will not maintain peace between the French and Dutch speaking communities. Putting ban on speaking French will cause civil unrest. The best and better way to integrate the people of town is that both the languages should be made acceptable in the town’s schools to make it a bilingual educational system.


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