Royal question

The royal question indicates in Belgium the political events which took place between the May 7th 1945 and the July 17th 1951 in connection with the return to the country of the king Léopold III after the Second world war. It was at the origin of an insurrectionary rising mainly in the industrial Sillon of the Wallonia, which was the theater of bloody events, an attack campaign between the 20 and on July 26th, 1950, then of a violent general strike.

Origins of the royal question

It finds its origins inter alia in the differences in opinion between the monarchs and its ministers, the incidents of the Bataille of the Lily, the attitude of French towards the king following the capitulation and the need for the Belgian ministers to moderate, the divergences of the Flemish and Walloon opinions under the German occupation, the engagement differentiated in Resistance - seven times more attacks in Wallonia than in Flanders -, the maintenance of the Walloon soldier as Prisoner of war by Hitler which released almost all the Flemings. Elements as the remarriage of the monarch with Lilian Baels also played a part in the dissatisfaction with the Belgians.

Release by the Americans of Léopold III prisoner in Germany

The American army releases the royal family the May 7th 1945, that is to say a little less than one year after its arrival in Germany where it had been led like the Pétain Marshal, the shortly after on June 6th, 1944. Since the Release, intervened in September 1944, the Parliament had decided to entrust to the prince Charles the Régence of the Kingdom.

The impossibility of the return of the king in Belgium

The king Léopold III wishes to return to Belgium. The catholic ministers are favorable there, while their colleagues of the laic parties are opposite there. This situation will cause the bursting of the coalition of the Government of the Prime Minister Achille Van Acker. This event suspends temporarily the crisis, the Syndicat Socialiste FGTB, announcing the general Grève.

The law on the end of impossibility of reigning

The July 19th, the Parlement adopts a law not authorizing the return of the king without the Sénat and the Chambre not coming to a conclusion about the end of the Impossibilité of reigning of Léopold III. After the capitulation of May 1940, the Government Hubert Pierlot had declared the king " in the impossibility of régner" , an impossibility which, in fact and in right had not ended.

Within sight of the pacifist attitude, if not collaborationnist, of the king during the occupation, various points of view are opposed. The social-Christians are favorable to the return of the king to the businesses, the liberals wish an obliteration of the king, while socialist and communist require its Abdication.

The organization in 1950 of a popular consultation

Of 1947 with 1949, a Coalition Socialist-Christians (PSB and PSC), which does not have a position joint vis-a-vis the royal question, directs the country. From 1947 to 1949, Paul-Henri Spaak directs a coalition PSB-PSC. After the election S of 1949, in which the women take part for the first time, a coalition between social-Christians (PSC) and liberals is set up. This government organizes the 12 March 1950 a Popular consultation, that is to say a advisory Référendum on the return of the king on the throne (the referendum is not allowed by the Belgian Constitution).

The results of the Consultation divide Wallons and Flemish

The result is that 2.933.382 Belgians (57,68%) declare themselves for the return of the king against 2.151.881 (42,32%) who are against, but a fracture appears: if 72,2% of the Flemish S are favorable to the sovereign, 58% Wallons are opposed there, like also a majority of the Inhabitants of Brussels.

In Flanders

The Limbourg gives 83% of yes, followed Western Flanders with 75%, of the Eastern Flanders with 72% and of Antwerp with 68% of favorable opinions. Or 16 districts out of 16 for YES.

In Brussels

One records a light favorable majority in old the Province of the Brabant (50,15%, in Brussels 48% or 52% of NOT).

In Wallonia

In Wallonia, the provinces of Luxembourg and Namur say yes with respectively 65% and 58%.

The Hainaut is opposed to the return of the king with 64% of not and Liege with 58% of opponents.

But with the current direction, these are three Walloon provinces out of five which decided against the King, the district of Bubbles, coinciding with current the Province of the Walloon Brabant, with 65% of not.

However, in the Province of Liege, the district of Verviers YES voted (60% of YES) and in the Province of Namur, the district of Namur voted NOT accuracy (51% of NOT).

On the whole 9 Walloon districts out of 13 decided for NOT. Or (with the current direction), 10 French-speaking districts (9 Walloons + Brussels), or with French-speaking majority on 14.

Victory of the PSC to the national legislative elections of June 1950

The elections of June 1950 only bring the social-Christians of PSC to the capacity and put an end to impossibility of reigning of the king (thanks to their majority at the Parliament).

The return of Léopold III and Walloon insurrection

As of June and July of big demonstrations, strikes, deposits of flowers to the war memorials express in Wallonia the opposition to the return of the king. These strikes are framed by FGTB, PSB, PCB, in certain measurements the liberals, some Christians of left, the Walloon Mouvement, the former executives of Resistance.

A wave of attacks, the alarm clock of Resistance

Léopold III returns to Brussels the July 22nd. The day before, in Boussu (Mons), a first attack with the explosive had already taken place. A hundred of those aimed at the ways of railroad and the powerplants. The reaction to the return of the king was indeed very violent in the Walloon industrial basins, especially in area inhabitant of Li2ege.

The general strike, the drama of Grace-Berleur

The strike is general there as of on July 26th. The demonstrations follow one another. The tension is with its roof, when, the July 30th 1950, three men were cut down by the gendarmerie at the time of a meeting with Grace-Berleur, in suburbs inhabitant of Li2ege. A fourth died of its wounds.

Project of walk on Brussels and a separatist Walloon government

The Socialists, the Communists, the opponents with the king in the Walloon movement had decided to walk on Brussels. This walk get going. The worst was feared. In Liege one notes the attempt at formation of a separatist Walloon Gouvernement.

Léopold III is withdrawn

Léopold III, vis-a-vis the virulent oppositions expressed by the Walloon populations to see it restored on the throne and yielding to the councils of the majority Ministers for the Government Jean Duvieusart, decides to transmit its capacities to his/her son, Baudouin. This one lends oath like general Lieutenant of the Kingdom , on August 11th, 1950.

Live the Republic! Assassinated Lahaut

At the time of its oath-taking in front of the joined together Rooms, identical to that of a future king, a cry rises Vive the Republic! . This cry will be allotted to Julien Lahaut, deputy and president of the Belgian Communist party, which will be assassinated seven days later in its residence of Seraing. At the time of his majority, Baudouin becomes, the July 17th 1951 Baudouin I {{er}}.

Consequences of the royal question

The Belgian society will remain marked a long time by these events. With the school question and undoubtedly more than it still, it was largest revealing of the division of the Belgians. There were also other consequences: the Dutch-speaking ones were aware to constitute the majority of the population and considered that once more the French-speaking people had imposed their views. In Flanders, the Flemish movements were radicalized. In Wallonia, it is the working world which was radicalized, estimating that the Walloons being a minority, they needed a protection, and thus a broader autonomy.

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