Vlaams Belang

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Flemish Interest
Vlaams Belang
Political positionRight-wing[6] to far-right[16]
Regional affiliationNone
European affiliationPatriots.eu
European Parliament groupPatriots for Europe
(since 2024)[nb 1]
Francophone counterpartChez Nous
Colours
  •   Yellow
  •   Black
SloganEerst onze mensen
('Our people first')
Chamber of Representatives
20 / 87
(Flemish seats)
Senate
7 / 35
(Flemish seats)
Flemish Parliament
31 / 124
Brussels Parliament
2 / 17
(Flemish seats)
European Parliament
3 / 13
(Flemish seats)
Flemish Provincial Councils
33 / 175
Benelux Parliament
2 / 21
(Belgian seats)
Website
www.vlaamsbelang.org

Vlaams Belang (Dutch pronunciation:

Flemish nationalist,[17][18] Eurosceptic and right-wing populist[18][19] political party in the Flemish Region and Brussels Capital Region of Belgium. It is widely considered by the media and political analysts to be on the political far-right,[20] although it self-describes as right-nationalist and has tried to distance itself from the far-right label in recent years.[21]

Vlaams Belang is a rebrand of

conservative party by distancing itself from some of its former programs.[23] Nonetheless, most other parties initially continued the cordon sanitaire which was implemented against the former party, effectively blocking the Vlaams Belang from taking part in government at any level. Additionally, attempts on cutting public subsidies specifically for the party were made through the Belgian draining law
.

Like Vlaams Blok, Vlaams Belang was initially popular among the Flemish electorate and it was also one of the most successful nationalist-populist parties in Europe. However, from 2008, the party experienced a downturn in support and membership, a situation which coincided with internal problems which existed within the party and the rise of the more moderate nationalist New Flemish Alliance, which, at the time, supported Flemish independence. Under the current leadership of Tom Van Grieken, the VB has begun to regain popular support and as a result, it made a comeback during the 2019 federal elections. Following the election, there has been some media speculation that the cordon sanitaire of the party may be lifted for the first time.[24] By 2021, the VB had again grown into one of the largest parties in the Flemish region.[25]

History

Background: Vlaams Blok

Main article: Vlaams Blok

The direct predecessor of the Vlaams Belang was the Vlaams Blok, which was formed by the nationalist right-wing and national conservative faction within the People's Union (Volksunie, VU) which had emerged in the late 1970s. The ideology of the Vlaams Blok started out with its radical nationalist rejection of the People's Union compromise on the Flemish autonomy issue, and later increasingly focused on immigration and security, exploitation of political scandals, and defense of traditional values.[26] The immigration positions of the Vlaams Blok were subject to much controversy, particularly after the party released its 70-point plan, and the Vlaams Blok was forced to disband in 2004 after being found to sanctioned illegal discrimination.[27] By then, the party was the most popular Flemish party, supported by about one in four of the Flemish electorate,[28] and was one of the most successful parties considered to be right-wing populist in Europe as a whole.[29]

In Belgium in 2001, Roeland Raes, the ideologue and vice-president of Vlaams Blok, gave an interview to Dutch TV where he cast doubt over the number of Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. In the same interview he questioned the scale of the Nazis' use of gas chambers and the authenticity of Anne Frank's diary. The interview was met with uproar within the party with the VB's leadership immediately distancing themselves from Raes and holding an emergency meeting on whether to expel him. According to political scientist Cas Mudde, the Vlaams Blok had campaigned on heavy anti-immigration themes but had positioned itself against antisemitism and Holocaust denial.[30] In response to the media assault following the interview, Raes was forced to resign his position but vowed to remain active within the party.[31]

Upon complaints filed by the governmental

Appellate Court of Ghent came to a final verdict, forbidding their and the party's continued existence for its "repeated incitement to discrimination." The trial was met with intense debate and mixed reactions, with the Vlaams Blok leadership and some political commentators arguing the trial was a politically motivated attempt by the Belgian establishment to destroy the party.[32] In November that year, the Court of Cassation rejected their last appeal to annul the verdict; the delay had allowed using the name Vlaams Blok for election candidacy.[33][34]

Vlaams Belang (2004–2008)

After the Supreme Court ruling, the leadership of the VB seized the occasion to dissolve itself, and start afresh under a new name.[35] On 14 November, the Vlaams Blok thus disbanded itself, and the Vlaams Belang was established. Other proposed names had included the Flemish People's Party and Flemish Freedom Front.[36] The Vlaams Belang also instituted a number of changes in its political program, carefully moderating or discarding some of the more radical positions of the former Vlaams Blok.[37] Nevertheless, the party leader Frank Vanhecke made it clear that the party would fundamentally remain the same; "We change our name, but not our tricks. We change our name, but not our programme."[27]

Former Vlaams Blok chairman

Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V) that would form a coalition or close agreements with the Vlaams Belang, would no longer be considered part of the CD&V.[40]

The VB contested the

National Front.[42]

Decline and internal strife (2008–2018)

In 2008,

2010 general election, the party was again reduced, to 12 seats in the Chamber, and three in the Senate. This was largely due to the great success of the more moderate new party New Flemish Alliance, which also campaigned on Flemish independence and took many of the VB's votes.[44] Around this time, the VB also saw several high-profile members defect from or quit the party, such as former leader Frank Vanhecke.[45] After the party suffered heavy losses during the local elections of 2012 Bruno Valkeniers stepped down as party chairman and was succeeded by Gerolf Annemans.[citation needed
]

In the 2014 federal and regional elections, the party again suffered a big loss; it was reduced to 5.9% of the Flemish vote. The European list, pulled by Annemans, scored slightly better with 6.8%. Annemans resigned as party leader, a function he only performed for two years, and argued for a rejuvenation of the party. The following party chairman election was won by the only candidate, Tom Van Grieken, then 28 years old and at the time the youngest leader of a political party in Belgium.[46] After assuming leadership of the party, Van Grieken sought to soften and moderate its image further.[47]

Resurgence (2018–present)

During the

N-VA to adopt a position against the Compact.[50]

On May 26, 2019, in what was known as "Super Sunday" in Belgium (owing to the fact the Federal, Regional and European elections took place on the same day) the party made substantial gains in all three elections which some political analysts described as a significant comeback.[citation needed]

The party polled second place in the Flemish region with 18.6% of the overall vote, increasing its number of MPs in the

Chamber of Representatives to 18 (its best result since 2007). In the Flemish Parliament the party also finished second, gaining 23 representatives.[51][52] The party's campaign was managed by Bart Claes. Political analysts noted that the VB saw an increase in support among voters under 30 which was attributed to the party's use of social media campaigning.[53]

In response to the results, there was some speculation that the N-VA leader

King Philippe for the first time along with the leaders of the other main parties. The former Vlaams Blok party had previously been denied a meeting with the King in 1991 and 2003.[47] Eventually, the party remained in opposition both at the regional and federal level, as, with the exception of N-VA, no other party was found willing to break the cordon.[55]

During the 2024 Belgian federal election, the European and regional elections which again took place on the same day, the VB made further gains in all, including polling in first place in the Flemish electoral college for the European elections and finishing joint first in the Flemish parliament, but didn't see as many gains as initially predicted by opinion surveys in the Federal Parliament where the N-VA remained as the largest Flemish party.[56]

In the

Open VLD mayor Lode Hofmans agreed to form a governing coalition with Vlaams Belang.[58][59]

Ideology

The policies of the Vlaams Belang focus mainly on the issues of

Flemish independence, opposition to multiculturalism, and defence of traditional Western values.[23] By 2021, media commentators described the party as coming to contain two large factions: the more conservative salonfähige wing, who wish to moderate the party in order to break the cordon sanitaire by implementing a policy of de-demonizing the VB, taking inspiration from other European parties and politicians such as Marine Le Pen and the French National Rally; and a more radical and traditionalist wing who held ties to groups like the Order of Flemish Militants.[60] The party has also been labelled as "neo-Fascist",[61][62][63] and has had various scandals related to neo-Nazism.[64][65][66]

Domestic policy

The Vlaams Belang supports returning

Belgian Senate.[68]

Although the party almost exclusively stands in the Flemish region of Belgium, it ran a list of candidates in the Walloon Brabant electoral district in 2007 as a protest against the lack of splitting between Flemish and Francophone communities in Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde.[69]

Flemish nationalism

The VB's main goal is to establish an independent Flemish republic. The party seeks a peaceful secession of Flanders from Belgium, citing in its program the dissolution of the

ethnonationalism in recent years when discussing Flemish national identity. Political author Hans-Georg Betz noted that the party no longer features the ethnically defined version of people ("volk") that was featured in the former Vlaams Blok "Own People First" slogan and instead uses the neutral sounding Mensen — the Dutch word for human beings in its messages.[72]

Immigration and minorities

The Vlaams Belang official

freedom of expression and equality between men and women.[73][74][75][76] In its current platform, the VB states that it supports immigrants who can assimilate into Flemish culture, but positions itself against mass immigration in Belgium, calling for tightened laws on family migration, a complete freeze on what it terms as non-essential immigration and expulsion of unemployed foreign nationals.[77]

In 2021, Vlaams Belang called for the formation of an "Agency for Remigration".[78]

The former Vlaams Blok was, according to political scientist

Belgian federal government and the European Union, arguing that such policies leave Flanders vulnerable to terrorism and have eroded Flemish culture. It also states that immigrants must adapt to Flemish values and culture rather than Flanders having to change to adopt the cultures of migrants, and that immigrants who cannot adapt to Flemish culture or laws should be offered incentives to voluntarily repatriate themselves. The party also supports the expulsion of illegal immigrants and foreign residents with criminal records from Flanders.[82]

Currently, the party is seen as anti-Islam,[83][84] while being strongly pro-Israel, regarding Jews and Israelis as allies against radical Islam.[85] Filip Dewinter, for example, has stated that women wearing the hijab have "effectively signed their contract for deportation."[86] Initially, members of Belgium's Jewish community boycotted the party due to the stigma of wartime collaborationism associated with Flemish nationalism and the fact the VB's Vlaams Blok predecessor contained founders who had collaborated with the Nazis. However, in Antwerp sections of the city's large Jewish community now actively support the party, as they feel threatened by the new wave of anti-Semitism from the growing Muslim population. The VB's list for the 2024 municipal elections in Antwerp includes a practicing Jewish candidate for the first time.[87][88][89] In 2010, the party was part of a delegation to Israel (along with some other rightist parties), where they issued the "Jerusalem Declaration," which defended the right of Israel to exist and defend itself against terrorism.[90] Israeli Deputy Minister Ayoob Kara in turn visited the party in Antwerp in 2011.[91] In March 2014, a party mission headed by Dewinter visited Israel and met with Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Ofir Akunis. and Samaria Regional Council, Gershon Mesika and Yossi Dagan.[92][93]

Social issues

Like its predecessor, the Vlaams Belang was initially

civil partnerships for same-sex couples. After assuming leadership, Tom Van Grieken stated that the party had dropped its campaign against gay marriage. In 2014, the party moderated its stance and changed its policy to support same-sex marriage. This more moderate stance has not been widely accepted by all party members. On abortion the party is socially conservative.[94][95] According to Vlaams Belang abortion should only be possible when the woman's life is in danger, when the unborn child is not viable and in the case of rape.[96]

Law and order

In order to secure Flemish cities, the party wants to implement a policy of zero tolerance. It supports the abolition of the Belgian parole law, which allows convicts to be released after only one third of their prison sentence has been served. The party also opposes drug liberalization. Citing "a massive overrepresentation of immigrants in crime statistics," the party also wants to deport criminal and illegal foreigners, as well as seeking to "combat Islamic terror threat."[97]

Economy

The party's economic policy has been changed significantly from the Vlaams Blok. While the Vlaams Blok called for a rather mixed economy, the Vlaams Belang moved towards neoliberalism.[86] However, for the 2019 federal election, the party returned to a protectionist economic program.[98] A 2023 study by Koen Abts of the Institute for Social and Political Opinion Research at KU Leuven documented the VB's economic position as somewhere between protectionism and economic liberalism.[99]

Foreign policy

European Union

The party describes itself as pro-European in terms of protecting

eurosceptic stance towards the European Union and its structures as a whole and argues the EU does not financially benefit Flanders or respect national identities of member states.[100] Political commentators have described the VB as for many years and until recently being Belgium's only and most distinct EU-critical party.[101] In its program, the VB is strongly against any evolution towards a Federal European Superstate, argues for Flemish withdrawal from the Schengen Area and the reinstatement of border controls, abolition of the Eurozone and opposes the accession of Turkey to the European Union.[102] The party states that it supports cooperation of European nations for economic trade and to give Flanders political visibility but calls for the EU to be fundamentally changed into a smaller confederal union of independent nations or abolished if it becomes a Federal Superstate and imposes further open border policies on Flanders.[103]

Russia and Ukraine

The VB was previously critical of imposing sanctions against Russia and was accused of fostering links to Putin's government with some members of the party visiting representatives of Putin, but following the Russian invasion of Ukraine the party's leadership have condemned the invasion and distanced themselves from Putin with VB politician Filip Dewinter stating Putin had "totally lost it."[104]

VB leader Tom Van Grieken also stated in 2022 that the party "thought at one point Putin was an ally in the fight against multiculturalism, but now it appears we were grossly mistaken" and referred to Putin as a "dictator who commits atrocities."[105]

However, the party remains critical of the impact of sanctions against Russia on fuel prices in Belgium. Since the invasion, the VB has supported supplying humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, issuing a statement saying "we have always spoken out in favor of supplying defensive equipment and weapons to Ukraine, so that it can defend its sovereign territory against Russian aggression" but has also criticised the financial extent of Belgian military support for Ukraine.[106][107]

Middle East

The VB condemned the

radical Islam".[109]

Public reception

Political position and labels

Like

Great Replacement theory by using the term omvolking (population replacement) when discussing immigration.[113][114][115] The VB itself has disputed the extreme or far-right label in recent years.[116][117][118][119]

The party itself has repeatedly denied that it is racist and believes such accusations are based on attempts to discredit the party. Politicians, like former

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (VLD) and Karel De Gucht (VLD) have called the Vlaams Belang and its leaders "fascist". However, history professor Eric Defoort has stated the use of this terminology creates "a distorted image of their antagonist, whom they can then scold with missionary zeal."[120][121]

Collaboration and cordon sanitaire

Since its founding, most

Federal Parliament
.

In 2011, all the French speaking Belgian parties in the Federal parliament, as well as the Flemish

Belgian Council of State to withdraw all allocation of parliamentary money to the party, claiming statements and policies proposed by its leadership violated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). However, the Council of State rejected the calls, arguing that the party had not violated the rules of the ECHR and that other accusations made against the party were based on old evidence revolving around the former Vlaams Blok trial. The VB's leadership described the accusations against the party as politically motivated and undemocratic.[122]

Although collaboration with the party still remains controversial within some political circles, more mainstream Belgian politicians have started to discuss the possibility of including the party in coalition talks and lifting the cordon sanitaire, arguing that the VB's gradual moderation and growth in support cannot be ignored and that some of the policies the party has campaigned on have since been adopted by the main parties.[24]

Ali statement

In 2006

critic of Islam in the Netherlands, and to whom Vlaams Belang on different occasions referred to defend its points of view on Islam, called the party "a racist, anti-Semitic, extremist party that is unkind to women and that should be outlawed."[123] The party responded that Ali had been misinformed and considered this to be part of a smear campaign. Vlaams Belang underlined that Ali supposedly made the statement on the occasion of a debate organised by the left-liberal think tank Liberales, whose president is Dirk Verhofstadt who is known for regularly publishing accusations against the party.[124] Vlaams Belang also wrote an open letter to Ali supporting her work.[125]

Raes controversy

In September 2024, the party sparked controversy by putting Roeland Raes who had previously been convicted of Holocaust denial as one of its candidates in the upcoming municipal elections before removing his candidacy the following day.[126][127]

Organization

Leadership

Party chairmen

Faction leaders

International relations

In the

National Front.[42] The party has also had some contacts with the Freedom Party of Austria, the Italian Northern League, the Dutch Party for Freedom, the Danish People's Party, the Slovak National Party, the now-defunct German Freedom Party, and the Sweden Democrats.[90][128]

In October 2007, the party hosted the international counter-jihad conference in the European and Flemish Parliaments in Brussels together with Edward "Ned" May of the blog Gates of Vienna, which brought together many counter-jihad ideologues including Bat Ye'or, Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, Gerard Batten, Hans Jansen, Andrew G. Bostom, Paul Beliën, Aryeh Eldad and Lars Hedegaard.[129][130]

In the ninth European Parliament, the party sat with France's National Rally, Italy's Lega Nord, the Freedom Party of Austria, Alternative for Germany and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia in the Identity and Democracy parliamentary group. In 2024, the party's relations with the AfD became somewhat strained due to statements made by AfD candidates on Nazi Germany with the VB's European delegation saying it would wait until after the 2024 European election to see if the two parties would continue collaborating.[131] In September 2024, VB issued a statement congratulating the AfD for its strong result in the 2024 state elections in Saxony and Thuringia.[132]

In the tenth European Parliament, the VB announced it would join the

Viktor Orban, the leader of the Hungarian Fidesz party.[133]

Outside the EU, it has ties to the Israeli Likud,[134] the Swiss People's Party, the Serbian People's Party,[135] South Africa's Freedom Front Plus,[136] and the US Republican Party.[137]

Election results

Chamber of Representatives

The main six Flemish political parties and their results for the Chamber of Representatives. From 1978 to 2014, in percentages for the whole Kingdom.
Election Votes % Seats +/- Government
2007 799,844 12.0
17 / 150
 Decrease 1[a] Opposition
2010 506,697 7.8
12 / 150
 Decrease 5 Opposition
2014 247,746 3.7
3 / 150
 Decrease 9 Opposition
2019 810,177 11.9
18 / 150
 Increase 15 Opposition
2024 959,988 14.42
20 / 150
 Increase 2 Opposition

Senate

Election Votes % Seats +/-
2007 787,782 11.9
5 / 40
 Steady 0[b]
2010 491,519 7.6
3 / 40
 Decrease 2
2014
2 / 60
 Decrease 1
2019
7 / 60
 Increase 5

Regional

Brussels Parliament

Election Votes % Seats Seats D.E.C. +/- Government
D.E.C. Overall
2009 9,072 17.5 (#3)
3 / 89
3 / 17
 Decrease 3[c] Opposition
2014 3,006 5.6 (#6)
1 / 89
1 / 17
 Decrease 2 Opposition
2019 5,838 8.3 (#5)
1 / 89
1 / 17
 Steady 0 Opposition
2024 8,475 10.5
2 / 89
2 / 17
 Increase 1 Opposition

Flemish Parliament

Election Votes % Seats +/- Government
2009 628,564 15.3 (#2)
21 / 124
 Decrease 11[d] Opposition
2014 232,813 6.0 (#6)
6 / 124
 Decrease 15 Opposition
2019 783,977 18.5 (#2)
23 / 124
 Increase 17 Opposition
2024 992,175 22.7 (#2)
31 / 124
 Increase 8 Opposition

European Parliament

Election List leader Votes % Seats +/- EP Group
D.E.C. Overall
2009 Frank Vanhecke 647,170 15.88 (#3) 9.85
2 / 22
 Decrease 1[e]
NI
2014 Gerolf Annemans 284,891 6.76 (#6) 4.35
1 / 21
 Decrease 1 ENF
2019 811,169 19.08 (#2) 12.05
3 / 21
 Increase 2 ID
2024 Tom Vandendriessche 1,034,112 22.94 (#1) 14.50
3 / 22
 Steady 0 PfE

Representation

European politics

VB holds three seats in the

2024–2029) for the Dutch-speaking electoral college
.

European Parliament
Name In office Parliamentary group
Tom Vandendriessche 2019–present Patriots for Europe
Gerolf Annemans 2014–present
Barbara Bonte 2024–present

Federal politics

Chamber of Representatives (2024–2029)
Constituency Name Notes
Antwerp Lode Vereeck
Marijke Dillen
Reccino Van Lommel
Ellen Samyn
Sam van Rooy
East Flanders Barbara Pas Floor leader
Werner Somers
Pieter De Spiegeleer
Ortwin Depoortere
Francesca Van Belleghem
Alexander Van Hoecke
West Flanders Wouter Vermeersch
Kristien Verbelen
Kurt Ravyts
Dominiek Spinnewyn-Sneppe
Flemish Brabant Britt Huybrechts
Katleen Bury
Kurt Moons
Limburg (Belgium) Annick Ponthier
Dieter Keuten
Frank Troosters
Senate (2024–2029)
Type Name
Community senator Anke Van dermeersch
Community senator Bob De Brabandere
Community senator Yves Buysse
Community senator Klaas Slootmans
Community senator Ilse Malfroot
Community senator Wim Verheyden
Community senator Johan Deckmyn
Community senator Hans Verreyt

Flemish Parliament

Flemish Parliament (2024–2029)
Constituency Name Notes
Antwerp Tom Van Grieken
Anke Van dermeersch
Filip Dewinter
Bart Claes
Bart Van Opstal
Els Sterckx
Dries Devillé
East Flanders Guy D'haeseleer
Freija Van den Driessche
Kristof Slagmulder
Filip Brusselmans
Johan Deckmyn
Ilse Malfroot
Adeline Blancquaert
Flemish Brabant Klaas Slootmans
Suzy Wouters
Jan Laeremans
Frédéric Erens
West Flanders Immanuel De Reuse
Sarah T'Joens
Stefaan Sintobin
Tom Lamont
Carmen Ryheul
Limburg (Belgium) Chris Janssens Floor leader
Roosmarijn Beckers
Leo Pieters
Michiel Awouters
Mercina Claesen

Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region

Brussels Regional Parliament (2024–2029)
Name Notes
Bob De Brabandere
Sonja Hoylaerts

Notes

  1. Non-Inscrits (until 2019), and Identity and Democracy
    (2019–2024).
  1. ^ Compared to Vlaams Blok in the 2003 federal election.
  2. ^ Compared to Vlaams Blok in the 2003 federal election.
  3. ^ Compared to Vlaams Blok in the 2004 Brussels Parliament elections.
  4. ^ Compared to Vlaams Blok in the 2004 Flemish Parliament elections.
  5. ^ Compared to Vlaams Blok in the 2004 European Parliament election.

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Bibliography

News articles

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