Posted on 12/17/2007 7:51:34 AM PST by SkyPilot
BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgium's political tensions entered the glamour stakes after it was revealed that the new Miss Belgium does not speak Dutch.
Belgium's political tensions entered the glamour stakes after it was revealed that the new Miss Belgium does not speak Dutch. Alizee Poulicek, who comes from the country's French-speaking region, was booed at the contest by some of the 4,000 audience when she admitted that she could not understand a question put to her in Dutch.
Alizee Poulicek, who comes from the country's French-speaking region, was booed by some of the 4,000 audience when she admitted that she could not understand a question put to her in Dutch at the contest on Saturday night in the main Flemish city of Antwerp.
Poulicek, a 20-year-old language student, speaks French, Czech and English, but Flemish tabloid daily Het Laatste Niuews headlined its Monday edition with: "Miss Belgium does not speak Dutch".
The paper underlined that the "community crisis in our country" -- where there is no government six months after general elections amid bickering between leaders of the main French and Flemish parties -- "has insinuated itself into even the lightest sector."
Poulicek's victory "is not going down well," the daily said.
She said she had been taking Dutch lessons before the contest and has pledged to improve her standard in one of Belgium's three official languages, along with French and German.
The incident did not hurt her image with television viewers who voted for her, but Flemish journalists assailed her with questions at a press conference, highlighting her deficiencies in their tongue.
The Flemish community accounts for 60 percent of Belgium's 10.5 million people. A further 3.5 million live in Wallonia and one million in the largely Francophone, but officially bilingual Brussels.
Must.....suppress....urge.....to....make....a.....pun.......
I could get bi-lingual with her.
Dude she is hot, what amatter with these people!
She’s cute enough.... but she needs a sammich or two...
I’ve got a good friend who’s Belgain and speaks French and English. I’m going to email her about this :)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
How do you say, “Not Guilty!” in Dutch?
Not guilty!!
I was amazed that the beautiful blonde girl who worked at the counter could speak French, Flemmish, German, and English!
Miss Belgium here speaks three languages!
There is no pleasing everybody.
Oh like anyone pays attention to what they say anyway... come on.
The divisions in Belgium are as stark if not more than the long established linguistic divisions in Canada via Quebec.
I am pleased, however.
Definitely Not Guilty!
She should come here and do Miss Whatever competitions in Massachusetts. French? only a smattering of Dutch? Don’t matter, as long as she doesn’t know a word of English in this undocudemented-alien haven.
Besides, Poulicek is a Czech name, her parents much have come from there, what the hell do those Phlegms expect?
She's certainly very pretty ... but (to me, at least) she doesn't look 20yo ... 16, maybe.
Maybe I'm just an old fart.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Does it really matter that she doesn’t speak Dutch. :)
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