|
This Scotland says "Yes" page is obsolete. |
| Republic of Eupen-Malmedy Republik Eupen-Malmed; Republique d'Eupen-Malmédy Timeline: Scotland says "Yes"
OTL equivalent: German-speaking Community of Belgium | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||
 Location of Eupen-Malmedy (dark green) within Flenebrulux (light green) and the European Union (Grey).
|
|||||
| Capital | Eupen | ||||
| Official languages | German, French | ||||
| Regional languages | Dutch, Luxembourgish | ||||
| Demonym | Eupen-Maledian | ||||
| Government | Unitary Presidential Republic | ||||
| - | Minister-President | Oliver Paasch | |||
| - | Vice-Minister-President | Isabelle Weykmans | |||
| - | Speaker | Karl-Heinz Lambertz | |||
| Legislature | Parliament | ||||
| Establishment | |||||
| - | Dissolution of Belgium | 2015 | |||
| Area | |||||
| - | Total | 854 km2 330 sq mi |
|||
| Population | |||||
| - | 2016 census | 76,090 | |||
| - | Density | 7025/km2 18,194.7/sq mi |
|||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |||
| Date formats | dd/mm/yyyy | ||||
| Drives on the | Right | ||||
Eupen-Malmedy (Eupen-Malmédy), officially the Republic of Eupen-Malmedy (German: Republik Eupen-Malmedy) is a nation in the Low Countries, which includes nine of th eleven municipalities known as the East Cantons (German: Ost-Kantone). It gained independence in 2015.
It has a minor border with the Netherlands to its North, borders the German State of Rhineland-Palatine to the West, Luxembourg to the South, and the French region of Wallonia to the West.
History[]
Eupen-Malmedy area and other German territories lost in both World Wars are shown in black, present-day Germany is marked dark grey on this 1914 map.
The area today known as the Eat Cantons were part of the Rhine Province of Prussia in Germany until 1920, but were annexed by Belgium following Germany's defeat in World War I, thus becoming known as the cantons rédimés, the "redeemed cantons". However, those wishing to remain in Germany were required to register themselves and their full details with the Belgian military administration, but feared reprisals or even explusion. During the 1920's there were secret negoitions between Germany and Belgium about selling the region back to Germany, but the French government persuaded Brussels not too.
However, after little more than 20 years as Belgian territory, in 1940 they were retaken by Germany in World War II, which was welcomes by the majority. However, following Germany's defeat in 1945 and the return of the region to Belgium, many were accused of collaboration with Nazi Germany, and attempts were made to 'de-Germanize' the territory by Belgian and Walloon authorities.
In the 1960's, Belgium was divided into four linguistic areas, Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, bilingual Brussels, and German-speaking parts of the cantons, and the Parliament of the German-speaking Community was set up, and slowly gained autonomy.
Independence[]
With the 21st Century, it looked like the German-speaking Community would continue on its path of further autonomy. However, in 2015 Flanders began to push for their own independence; it took little to set in motion the collapse of the Belgian state. Whilst at first it looked like the community would be forced to join Wallonia, joint efforts by the German-speaking Community, the Belgian province of Luxembourg, and the Principality of Luxembourg, allowed for the community to have a place in the talks. Fearing, rightly so, that staying with Wallonia would result in annexation then to France, the state then looked for alternative arrangements. Fearing annexation to Germany would have a similar loss of autonomy, full annexation to Luxembourg, which holds strong economic links with the region (many commute between the two daily), it was eventually agreed that the German-speaking Community would become an independent sovereign state, with the ability to later accede to either Luxembourg or Germany.
Government[]
The Government of Eupen-Malmedy is appointed for five years by the unicameral parliament, which itself is elected every five years. The Government is headed by the Minister-President, who is assisted by the Ministry of Malmedy-Eupen.
Political Parties[]
- Christian Social Party (CSP) (Centre)
- Party for Freedom and Progress (PFF) (Centre-Right)
- ProDG (Centre)
2016 Election[]
The current government, was formed in 2016, from the former 2014 Government, and is headed by Oliver Paasch (ProDG), Minister-President and Minister for Local Government. It was called after independence, and returned similar results to the former parliament.
Administrative Regions[]
Eupen-Malmedy consists of nine municpalities:
| Muncipality | Region |
Population (2015) |
Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amel | Eifel | 5,511 | 125.15 |
| Büllingen | Eifel | 5,503 | 150.49 |
| Burg-Reuland | Eifel | 3,955 | 108.96 |
| Bütgenbach | Eifel | 5.609 | 97.31 |
| Eupen | Eupen | 19,122 | 103.74 |
| Kelmis | Eupen | 10,897 | 18.12 |
| Lontzen | Eupen | 5,627 | 28.73 |
| Raeren | Eupen | 10,551 | 74.21 |
| St. Vith | Belgian Eifel | 9,553 | 146.93 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
