Belgian banana split

The French-language TV station RTBF has aired a 'special news bulletin' claiming that the Flemish regional parliament had declared the independence of Flanders. The King fled Brussels to take refuge in Congo. The news bulletin showed flag-waving Flemish nationalists celebrating, while Belgian nationalists demonstrated in Brussels. Until half an hour later, it turned out it was all fake, an elaborate fictional cocktail to stimulate debate... (CNN: Fake 'Belgian split' TV sparks row)

Even more shocking than this 'docu-fiction' was the flood of comments from the Prime Minister down to thousands who believed what they saw on TV until being told the truth. "Irresponsible", "questionable" and "regrettable", a bad joke...

Journalists' organizations deplored the loss of journalistic ethics, the Royal Palace refrained to comment on a mere TV program and everybody hollered and jelled that it was shameful that such a program could be presented as 'news'.

Any TV-viewer could have found out it was a deliberate fiction within 10 seconds by zapping to the Flemish TV, because if it was true, it would certainly air live the glorious Flemish revolution. Well, it didn't. It broadcast a football match. But French speakers don't watch Flemish TV, not even for 10 seconds to check the veracity of their own broadcasts, so they were fooled until after half an hour a notice appeared at the bottom of the screen that it was all a fake.

The big 'scandal' lasted for a mere half an hour and everybody is up in arms. Luckily without the fire or the bullets. Everybody condemned the RTBF except Filip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang, because he wished it was true and Geert Lambert of Spirit because the guy has a sense of humor.

And that, in the end, was lacking the most, a sense of humor. Apparently the unity of the country is no laughing matter. The debate about the future of the country will have to be held one day. Because the docu-fiction showed in an exaggerated way what could have been or what the future perhaps still holds in store. But for now the news of the split of the country turned out to be a banana split. And many a journalist and politician slipped on the skin.