Flemish leader doesn't want to split Belgium

Flemish leader rejects splitting Belgium

"Everybody thinks I want this, but I think it's not good because we're going to lose our prosperity if we launch into an adventure in which nobody knows how it will end," he said.

He likened bilingual capital Brussels, a largely francophone city located in Flemish territory, to the glue binding the two regions. The fate of areas on its periphery is among the sticking points in the current crisis.

"To say we can cut (the country) is simplistic and dangerous," de Wever added.

For now, the Flemish are happy if they are given more local control. This is a strong version of is happening in Arizona with immigration, and many other states with Obamacare. People are turning to smaller political units closer to home.

However, one has to wonder what happens in Belgium if they do lose their prosperity. At that point, there'd be much less to lose when splitting the country.