The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a political party in Belgium that supports Flemish independence and strict limits on non-European and non-Christian immigration, whereby immigrants need to adopt to the Western culture. VB rejects multiculturalism, although it accepts a multiethnic society that would exclude Islam. Although the party characterizes its current policies as those of a traditional conservative party, many observers describe it as far right.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... The Flemish movement (Dutch: Vlaamse Beweging) is a popular term used to describe the political movement for greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language in Flanders, and for protection of the Flemish culture. ... For this articles equivalent regarding the East, see Eastern culture. ... The multicultural national representation of the countries of origin at the student union of San Francisco City College. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Conservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into far right. ...

History

Volksunie and Vlaams Blok

Main articles: Volksunie and Vlaams Blok

Like its predecessors, the radical right wing of the Volksunie and Vlaams Blok, the Vlaams Belang is somewhat part of the diverse Flemish movement. When the Volksunie in the 1970s, under party president Hugo Schiltz attracted more progressive politicians, and accepted Belgian federalism, this did not sit well with the party's radical nationalist right wing, particularly after the party entered the coalition government of Leo Tindemans and in 1978 agreed upon the Egmont pact.^[6] Volksunie was a Belgian political party. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... Volksunie was a Belgian political party. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... The Flemish movement (Dutch: Vlaamse Beweging) is a popular term used to describe the political movement for greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language in Flanders, and for protection of the Flemish culture. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about Progressivism. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Political federalism is a political philosophy in which a group of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... Leo Tindemans, born in Zwijndrecht on 16 April 1922, was prime minister (CVP) of six Belgian governments, from 25 April 1974 to 20 October 1978. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The radical wing created two new small parties, the Vlaams-Nationale Partij (Flemish National Party, VNP), presided by Karel Dillen, and the Vlaamse Volkspartij (Flemish People Party, VVP) with the former VU senator Lode Claes. Both parties entered the 1978 general elections as a cartel under the name of Vlaams Blok. This resulted in one MP, Karel Dillen, being elected. Later, both parties effectively merged into the Vlaams Blok (English: Flemish Block). Lode Claes decided not to join the new party because of differing views on nationalism and right wing politics.^[7] Karel Dillen (born 16 October 1925, Antwerp) is a Belgian politician and a Flemish nationalist. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Karel Dillen (born 16 October 1925, Antwerp) is a Belgian politician and a Flemish nationalist. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ...

The Vlaams Blok's main growth started in 1991, when it increased its number of members of parliament from 2 to 12, gaining 6.6% of the vote. In 2003, the Vlaams Blok received 11.59% of the vote, with 18 MPs being elected.

Trial

In 2002, three non-profit organisations, that in practice were the core of the Vlaams Blok party, were brought to court by the Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and the Liga voor Mensenrechten for "incitement to hate and discrimination." The organisations were condemned by the Appeals Court of Ghent in April 2004 for the "repeated incitement to discrimination." An appeal by the party was thrown out by the High Court in November 2004.^[8] The Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism[1] (CEOOR) (Dutch: Centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding, French: Centre pour légalité des chances et la lutte contre le racisme or CECLR) is a Belgian government agency under the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Belgium. ... The Hof van Cassatie (Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (French) is the main court of last resort in Belgium. ...

Following this conviction, the Vlaams Blok party disbanded itself in 2004. The former Vlaams Blok party leadership and members consequently established the Vlaams Belang. According to the Belgian state security service, this is merely a cosmetic operation.^[9] Comments made by the party leadership read along the same line.^[10] The Belgian State Security Service noted that the party was forced to change its name and to rid its platform of racist elements.^[11] The "launch of the new name Vlaams Belang was paired with a publicity campaign that had the intention of creating an image of respectability,"^[12] Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... There are currently two intelligence services in Belgium. ...

Changes to the party platform have been made to allow it to comply with the law, and the motto of Vlaams Blok, Eigen volk eerst ("Own people first"), has been dropped, though it is still used by party leaders and members in meetings.

Vlaams Belang supporters, such as N-VA member and law professor Matthias Storme, see the trial in which the Vlaams Blok was condemned as a political trial.^[13] Some also claim that the Belgian establishment has changed the law for the purpose of this trial.^[14] Pro Flandria, an independent organization consisting of academia and businesspeople, wrote an open letter about the trial in 2003, saying that "political opponents should be fought in open forums, using arguments, so that a voter can make up one's mind...A court should not be misused for a political retaliation that cannot be made through political means."^[15] The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New-Flemish Alliance) is a Belgian political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. ... Matthias Storme (courtesy of Luc van Braekel) Matthias Edward Storme (Ghent, 1959- ) is a Belgian lawyer, liberal conservative academic, thinker and politician. ...

According to professor Lamine (KUL), a former VB member and main advisor of the party's legal team, the party for propaganda reasons purposely carried a weak defence, in order to lose the case : "For the party leaders, losing was much more interesting. Winning just wasn't an option."^[16] Lamine himself had earlier stated that the VB should have carried the trial to the European Court of Human Rights, but VB senator Joris Van Hauthem had already stated in 2005, that: "If we had gone to Strasbourg [ECHR] based on procedural arguments, we might have had a case. But Lamine already put in a private claim to overturn the Appeals Court verdict, on the basis of substantive arguments. If Vlaams Belang were to put forth a claim against the verdict as well, at Strasbourg, the Court will bundle both cases. Then we would lose the case for sure. Lamine has thus given us the final blow." Law professor Lamine denied this: "The party legal department's head doesn't know what he's doing."^[17] The judicial service of the Flemish Parliament noted that a procedure at the ECHR would not be able to overturn the Appeals Court conviction that condemnded the Vlaams Blok. Such procedure however could lead to a conviction of the Belgian state to pay damages.^[18] The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven in English - also the translated name of its French-speaking sister university) or K.U. Leuven is a Flemish university, located in the town of Leuven in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking (northern) region of Belgium. ... For other uses, see Propaganda (disambiguation). ... European Court of Human Rights building in Strasbourg The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), often referred to informally as the Strasbourg Court, was created to systematise the hearing of human rights complaints against States Parties to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by... Joris Van Hauthem is floor leader in the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: Vlaams Parlement, and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural and linguistic community of Belgium. ...

Gerolf Annemans created instant controversy during the inauguration event of the new party by condemning the prosecutors and judges who presided over the case in the Supreme Court and courts of appeal: "The names of all main legal figures in this trial are forever engraved in this lawyer's memory; they are warned for the rest of their careers."^[19] Mr. Annemans claimed he was provoked to say this, because Marc Timperman, the Supreme Court public prosecutor, laughed at the Vlaams Blok lawyers during the decisive Supreme Court session the week before. Vlaams Belang alleges that Timperman was a "political appointee" (Timperman was deputy chief of staff to VLD justice minister Marc Verwilghen).^[20][21] Gerolf Annemans (November 8, 1958) is a Belgian politician. ... Marc Ernest Elisabeth Robert Juliette Verwilghen, born 21 September 1952 in Dendermonde, is a Belgian politician. ...

Elections

The Vlaams Belang took part in the 2006 municipal elections on the theme of "Secure, Flemish, Liveable." The Belgian municipal elections, 2006 took place on Sunday October 8, 2006. ...

In Antwerp, the Vlaams Belang lost out to the Socialist Party at the municipal level, who increased their share of the vote dramatically. Although The VB-VLOTT got 0.5 % more votes, it again gained 20 seats, like VB did in 2000. But in 2006, 18 seats went to Vlaams Belang and 2 to its cartellpartner VLOTT. For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... Socialist Party - Different or Social Progressive Alternative (Dutch: Socialistische Partij - Anders or Sociaal Progressief Alternatief (sp. ... VLOTT (English:Flemisch Liberal Independent Tolerant Transparant) is a Belgian political party. ...

For all Antwerp district councils, except for Center and Borgerhout, the VB showed an increase of its voters share. In two districts, Hoboken and Deurne, VB has the most seats; in the former district, the other parties will have to work together with the Marxist-Leninist Workers Party (PVDA) in order to obtain a majority in the district council, although another party, the N-VA, has ruled out such a coalition.^[22] Vladimir Lenin in 1920 Leninism is a political and economic theory which builds upon Marxism; it is a branch of Marxism (and it has been the dominant branch of Marxism in the world since the 1920s). ... The Workers Party of Belgium (WPB), Partij van de Arbeid van België (PVDA) (in Dutch) or Parti du Travail de Belgique (PTB) (in French) is a Belgian communist party. ...

In the rest of Flanders, the Vlaams Belang, like the CD&V, enjoyed a massive increase of votes (the number of VB council members almost doubled, from 439 to about 800). This can be explained for a part by the fact that the party presented list is more communes than in 2000. In Aalst and Schoten, Vlaams Belang enjoys a plurality although it is unlikely that any party in these or other cities will break the cordon sanitaire. Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic and Flemish) is a political party in Belgium, formerly called Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP) (Christian Peoples Party). ... Aalst is a municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. ... Schoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. ...

Ideology and issues

Vlaams Belang advocates independence for Flanders and strict limitations on immigration. It is part of the right-wing radical wing of the Flemish movement and is a nationalist party. For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... The Flemish movement (Dutch: Vlaamse Beweging) is a popular term used to describe the political movement for greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language in Flanders, and for protection of the Flemish culture. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ...

Party platform

Some of the main points in the platform include:

• Independence for Flanders. One stated reason for this are the financial transfers from Flanders towards Brussels and Wallonia (the other parts of Belgium) which Vlaams Belang considers to be unjustified.^[23] Vlaams Belang sees the accompanying high employment cost as very negative for Flanders’ competitiveness.^{[citation needed]} The bilingual Brussels Region would for geographical reasons be included in that independent Flanders, though more than 80% of its inhabitants are now French-speaking.
• A closer co-operation between Flanders and The Netherlands, falling short of the federation with the Netherlands the former Vlaams Blok used to advocate. Vlaams Belang also wants to develop closer links with those areas in French Flanders where West Flemish used to be spoken.
• Abolition of administrative (translations on demand, bilingual road signs) and educational (teaching in French in primary schools) facilities for French-speakers in the six concerned border municipalities with Brussels, where Dutch is the official language. Within the framework of the actual legislation, as this education with reinforced study of the Dutch language is solely financed by the Flemish government, Vlaams Belang also wants them to have the full authority about the pedagogical and language inspection. In Vlaams Belang's view, these facilities would gallicize the Dutch-speakers rather than assimilate the French-speakers, and their practice would extend beyond the enacted law. French-speakers - who meanwhile represent the majority of the population in those municipalities - consider however that practices would conform to the law and that those facilities did not have assimilation as a purpose.
• Return of all economic immigrants who fail to "assimilate". Those immigrants who want political rights (the rights to vote, to get elected and to obtain a public job) should apply for naturalization and forsake their foreign nationality. This implies the repeal of the law granting under certain conditions the right to vote in municipal elections for non-EU foreigners. The "70 Steps Plan" of the former Vlaams Blok for the return of immigrants and their descendants was dropped.
• Opposition to the "islamisation of Europe", which Vlaams Belang views as a "frightening historical process".
• Blocking Turkey from joining the European Union.
• Reform of the European Union by advocating a small European government and more power devolved to the Regions, so that competition between regions would lead to lower taxes. Vlaams Belang opposes today's allegedly "undemocratic" European Union and refers to it as an upcoming unnecessary monster state.
• Full and unconditional amnesty for people convicted for collaboration with Nazi Germany after World War II. Vlaams Belang claims that many convicts were victims of excesses by the Belgian judiciary system against Flemish nationalists. It also states that it has "equal respect" for the suffering of all the victims during the years of war and the repression afterwards, regardless of whichever side they had sided with, or of whichever side the Belgian judiciary maintained that they had sided with. It states that all other European countries have already granted amnesty, and that the 1961 Belgian "Vermeylen" law is no general amnesty law such as in the Netherlands or France, it only possibly grants amnesty after expressing regret about the actions committed.
• After the Dutch and German model, extend the law of self-defense to the defense of home, shop and property.
• Increased child benefits, including provisions which allow one parent, if both employed, to remain at home for the benefit of education for their child or children. This is aimed at increasing the birth rate. Opponents see it as a measure to reinforce traditional male/female roles, and therefore as discriminatory against women.
• Opposition to the law enabling same-sex marriage, and opposition to the law proposal enabling adoption by same-sex couples.
• Abortion to be allowed only in the case of rape or for medical reasons. Vlaams Belang wants to take care of unexpected pregnancies by an elaborated attendance and a relaxation of the adoption and foster parents laws.
• Preservation of the current education system. The 2003 Pisa Report places it in general as best out of those it reviewed. Deeper analysis by the OECD however reveals that this is only true for native pupils. In the group of non-native pupils, the Flemish education system scores among the worst of systems reviewed, according to some revealing a structural discrimination against non-natives. Children of second generation foreigners even perform much worse than those of the first generation. The OECD largely attributes this difference to the fact that in Flanders 54% of the foreign pupils don’t speak Dutch at home and as a consequence don’t have a good command of the Dutch language. According to Vlaams Belang this lack of language skills is due to failing integration policies of the government and is aggravated because much foreigners search their bride abroad.
• Repeal of the anti-racism and anti-discrimination legislations on the grounds of free speech.
• Repeal the 2003 Belgian nuclear power exit by 2025 legislation. Vlaams Belang wants to revamp the existing nuclear power plants instead of building new ones in France, which would cost many times more.^{[citation needed]}
• Free market economic policies, such as limiting government intervention. It also advocates a simplified tax system, the flat tax, combined for social purposes with a significant zero taxation threshold to exempt low incomes from taxation.
• Reform of the pension system based upon investment funds instead of the present redistribution system. Vlaams Belang underlines that the Belgian state pension system is currently performing the worst out of all Western European countries.^[24]
• Abolition of the Belgian trade unions' unique pay-counter function for unemployment benefits, to step up the trade unions' global interest in creating employment.

FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... For other places with the same name, see Brussels (disambiguation). ... Wallonia (French: Wallonie, German: Wallonien, Walloon: Walonreye, Dutch: Wallonië) or the Walloon Region (French: Région Wallonne, Dutch: Waals Gewest) is the predominantly French-speaking region that constitutes one of the three federal regions of Belgium, with its capital at Namur. ... The Brussels-Capital Region (French: R gion de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, German: Region Br ssel-Hauptstadt) or Brussels Region (French: R gion Bruxelloise, Dutch: Brusselse Gewest) is one of the three regions of Belgium. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... Dietsland refers to the Greater Netherlands, including The Netherlands and Flanders, and sometimes (mostly in more extreme groups) French Flanders and sometimes even the Boer communities of South Africa, in other words, all areas where Dutch is spoken. ... Nord (French, the north) is a département in the north of France. ... West Flemish (in West Flemish, Vlaemsch) is a group of dialects, spoken in parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ... In law, naturalization refers to an act whereby a person acquires a citizenship different from that persons citizenship at birth. ... The 70 steps plan or 70-points-plan (Dutch: 70-puntenplan) is a proposal drafted in 1992 by the Vlaams Blok as an answer to the problem of aliens. ... Look up Region in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Amnesty in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Collaboration is a process defined by the recursive interaction of knowledge[1] and mutual learning between two or more people working together[2] toward a common goal typically creative in nature. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article and defense of property deal with the legal concept of excused (sometimes termed justified) acts that might otherwise be illegal. ... The defense of property is a possible excuse used by defendants who argue that they should not be held liable for the loss and injury they have caused because they were acting to protect their property. ... Look up benefit in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... International recognition Civil unions and domestic partnerships Recognized in some regions Unregistered co-habitation Recognition debated Civil unions legal, same-sex marriage debated See also Same-sex marriage Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box:      Same-sex marriage is a term... Adoption by same-sex couples refers to the adoption of children by gay or lesbian couples. ... The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a triennial world-wide test of 15-year-old schoolchildrens scholastic performance, the implementation of which is coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). ... The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization of those developed countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship. ... A nuclear power station. ... A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... A flat tax, also called a proportional tax, is a system that taxes all entities in a class (typically either citizens or corporations) at the same rate (as a proportion on income), as opposed to a graduated, or progressive, scheme. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Institutional fund management is fund management conducted by large financial firms such as banks, insurance companies and major investment organisations (e. ... A trade union or labor union is an organization of individuals associated through employment, or labour. ...

Cordon Sanitaire

Vlaams Belang is currently one of the largest Belgian parties, although other parties usually form alliances with their counterparts across the Flemish/Francophone divide (Christian-Democrats, Liberals, Socialists and Greens). Several polls carried out in 2005 and 2006 predict Vlaams Belang will be the largest party in the next election.^[25] It has been growing steadily since 1978, when its predecessor "Vlaams Blok" was formed. Nonetheless, it has no direct power due to the Cordon Sanitaire, a pact between the other Belgian parties that rejected Vlaams Blok from any governing coalition because the party's views were considered to be morally and politically unacceptable. Vlaams Belang says that the platform now is on the right track, making the Cordon Sanitaire without reason. The party however would need to convince others to join a coalition because the Belgian political system is based on proportional representation. Cordon sanitaire is a French phrase that, literally translated, means quarantine line. ... Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation, or PR), is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ...

After the regional elections in 2004, changes in the perception of the party by the population, as well as the growing strength of the party made it possible for the Vlaams Blok to be invited briefly for negotiations at the start of the formation of the regional government. In the runup towards the local elections of late 2006, there were signs that the cordon sanitaire could be breached in some municipalities, but it wasn't.

Critics of the Cordon Sanitaire argue that it is undemocratic, or that it is not effective in fighting the Vlaams Belang. Indeed, some figures in the other major Flemish political parties question its viability, and some have participated in debates with VB politicians. One Flemish newspaper, De Standaard, has declared its intention to treat Vlaams Belang like any other party. De Standaard (The Standard) is a Flemish daily newspaper with a circulation of 80,696 [1]. The first edition appeared on 4 December 1918. ...

In an interview with the popular weekly Humo, Flemish PM Yves Leterme (CD&V) however declared that a local chapter of his party that would form a coalition or close agreements with the Vlaams Belang, wouldn't be considered a part of the CD&V anymore.^[26] HUMO is a popular, independent, Belgian weekly radio and television magazine, written in Dutch. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Yves Camille Désiré Leterme (born October 6, 1960 in Wervik, Belgium) is a Belgian Senator, a former Minister-President of Flanders and Flemish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. ... Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic and Flemish) is a political party in Belgium, formerly called Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP) (Christian Peoples Party). ... Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic and Flemish) is a political party in Belgium, formerly called Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP) (Christian Peoples Party). ...

Government subsidy

Vlaams Belang, and the former Vlaams Blok is a very divisive issue in Belgium, particularly in Flanders. One response to Vlaams Belang has been attempts to cut state funding for the party^[27][28] (see the Belgian "dry up" law). On the Flemish level, there is no political majority yet for such actions against other parties, as this approach is generally viewed as being counter-productive. Some (less in Flanders, more amongst Francophones) have a different opinion. For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... An editor has expressed a concern that the topic of this article may be unencyclopedic. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... A Francophone is a person who speaks French natively or by adoption (i. ...

On May 18, 2006, the progressive organizations Kif Kif and MRAX (Movement against Racism, Antisemitism and Xenophobia), backed (as demanded by law) by the political parties sp.a, spirit, PS, MR and CDh (the parties also paid for the legal translation of the complaint^[29]), filed a complaint against Vlaams Belang with the Belgian Council of State. This court has six months to decide whether or not to cancel part of the state funding (dotation) the party receives, up to 2.1 million Euros yearly. The complaint claims that the Vlaams Belang party is "opposed to the rights granted in the European Convention on Human Rights". It refers to the utterance of Filip Dewinter calling his party "islamophobic" in a Jewish newspaper."^[30] The plaintiffs also state that "the party, for all intent and purpose, still uses the same platform and communication as the Vlaams Blok", that was condemned after a similar complaint.^[31] The complaint had been prepared for several months, and some of the complaining political parties had been hesitant to file it. The Vlaams Belang has stated its intention to denounce the majority of the judges because they are francophone or because they are allegedly hostile towards the party.^[32] is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the topic of this article may be unencyclopedic. ... Socialist Party - Different or Social Progressive Alternative (Dutch: Socialistische Partij - Anders or Sociaal Progressief Alternatief (sp. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Belgian political parties-Flanders ... The Parti Socialiste or PS of Belgium is a French-speaking social democratic political party. ... The Mouvement Réformateur (MR) is a Belgian French-speaking liberal party, favoring a united Belgium. ... The Humanist Democratic Centre (French: Centre Démocrate Humaniste or CDH) is a centrist, christian-democrat, Belgian French-speaking political party. ... Council of State (Dutch: Raad van State, French: Conseil dÉtat), in Belgium, is an organ of the Belgian government. ... “ECHR” redirects here. ... Filip Dewinter (official spelling: Philip Dewinter, born September 11, 1962, Bruges) is a Flemish politician in Belgium. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Issues

Some members, such as Roeland Raes have been accused of being Nazi sympathizers.^[33] Roeland Raes was charged with Historical revisionism in accordance with the Belgian Holocaust denial law, specifically for uttering the following controversial sentence: “whether it was planned that they should all die during the war is another question”.^[34] During the interview, Raes however had no doubts about the systematic persecution and deportation of the Jews by the Nazis. The original complaint goes back to 2001. In the meanwhile, the master video tape with the full interview, was lost.^[35] Early 2006, at the Public Prosecutor’s request and after a hearing in chambers, the charges were dropped, but after an appeal by the Forum of Jewish Organisations, the case was resumed. Roeland Raes (Ghent, 4 September 1934) is a former Belgian senator for and vice president of the Vlaams Blok party. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Historical revisionism is the attempt to change commonly held ideas about the past. ... The Belgian Holocaust denial law, passed on March 23, 1995, bans public Holocaust denial (or Holocaust revisionism). Specifically, the law makes it illegal to publicly deny, play down, justify or approve of the genocide committed by the German National Socialist regime during the Second World War. Prosecution is led by...

A December 2005 interview by Vlaams Belang frontman Filip Dewinter with the American-Jewish newsweekly The Jewish Week included a question if "Jews should vote for a party that espouses xenophobia". Dewinter responded by saying: "Xenophobia is not the word I would use. If it absolutely must be a ‘phobia,’ let it be ‘Islamophobia.’"^[36] Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Filip Dewinter (official spelling: Philip Dewinter, born September 11, 1962, Bruges) is a Flemish politician in Belgium. ... The Jewish Week is an independent community weekly newspaper serving the Jewish community of the metropolitan New York City area. ...

Politicians, like prime minister Guy Verhofstadt (VLD), Karel De Gucht (VLD) and the late Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn have called the Vlaams Belang or 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."^[37][38][39] Guy Verhofstadt (help· info) (born April 11, 1953) is a Belgian politician, municipal councillor in Ghent and current Prime Minister of Belgium. ... De Gucht in Brasília (November 21, 2006). ... Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuyn Wilhelmus Simon Petrus (Pim) Fortuyn (pronounced ; officially spelt Fortuijn), (February 19, 1948 – May 6, 2002), was a controversial, openly gay, charismatic[1] right-wing politician in the Netherlands who formed his own party Lijst Pim Fortuyn (List Pim Fortuyn or LPF). ...

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who is known to be a liberal political 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."^[40] According to Vlaams Belang, Hirsi Ali had been misinformed. The party considered this to be part of a smear campaign. Vlaams Belang underlined that Hirsi Ali supposedly made the statement on the occasion of a debate organised by the left-liberal think tank Liberales, whose president is Dirk Verhofstadt. Vlaams Belang added that Dirk Verhofstadt is known for regularly publishing accusations against the party.^[41] Vlaams Belang also wrote an open letter to Hirsi Ali.^[42] Ayaan Hirsi Ali ( ; Somali: ; born Ayaan Hirsi Magan 13 November 1969[2] in Mogadishu, Somalia) is a feminist and political writer, daughter of the Somali scholar, politician, and revolutionary opposition leader Hirsi Magan Isse. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Liberales is a Belgian liberal thinktank advocating progressive leftist viewpoints. ... Dirk Verhofstadt (born 1955) is a Belgian liberal (Rawlsian) theorist and brother of the Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. ...

On 31 May 2006 former chief of police Bart Debie was sent to criminal court. Mr. Debie is now a security expert and parliamentary cooperator of the party, and will be the party's main candidate in the local elections of 2006 in the Borgerhout district. Debie is being prosecuted for "torturing suspects at a police station, breach of the 1981 law on racism and xenophobia and forgery of police reports," acts committed on several occasions between February 1999 and April 2003. Mr. Debie’s defence argues that he is the victim of a reckoning. Debie resigned his commission as chief of police after a preventive suspension for "blurring of moral standards" due to these allegations, and was consequently given his present party functions.^[43] Borgerhout is a district in Antwerp, Belgium with 41. ...

On October 1, 2006, a week before the municipal elections, free concerts against intolerance, named 0110, were organised in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Charleroi. The Antwerp concert received over 40,000 spectators, the total was over 100,000.^[44] Vlaams Belang sees this as a direct attack by the establishment,^[45] because the event was sponsored by the Belgian National Lottery. The National Lottery however decided upon the sponsoring contract before the political content was clear.^[46] The Antwerp mayor Patrick Janssens (SP.a) disapproved of the concerts.^[47] The party also referred^[48] to the fact that the official website of the event specifically stated that Flanders deserves better than extreme right^[49] and that Tom Barman, the main organisor, had already announced in 2005 that he was planning a concert against Vlaams Belang in October 2006.^[50] The party wrote an open letter to famous Flemish artists, such as Clouseau, Helmut Lotti, Will Tura, Johan Verminnen and Laura Lynn, who it had been announced would participate, asking them not to do so.^[51] One Vlaams Belang council member called upon the readers of his web log to start a "mail bombardment" to the concerned artists.^[52] Critics spoke of an intimidation campaign by the party, but no artist withdrew from the concerts.^[53] At a party meeting on 1 October, Filip Dewinter was quoted saying that "if it really were concerts against intolerance, Vlaams Belang would have to be guest of honour", referring to the cordon sanitaire against the party.^[54] is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Belgian municipal elections, 2006 took place on Sunday October 8, 2006. ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... For other places with the same name, see Brussels (disambiguation). ... Geography Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province East Flanders Arrondissement Ghent Coordinates , , Area 156. ... Charleroi (Walloon: Tchålerwè) is the first city and municipality of Wallonia in population. ... Patrick Janssens Patrick Janssens is a Belgian politician, born on 19 September 1956. ... Socialist Party - Different or Social Progressive Alternative (Dutch: Socialistische Partij - Anders or Sociaal Progressief Alternatief (sp. ... Tom Barman (born January 1, 1972) is a Belgian film director and musician. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 2006 is the tenth month of that year and has yet to occur. ... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... Clouseau is a Belgian pop group, which has had several hits in Belgium and the Netherlands since its establishment halfway into the 80s. ... Helmut Lotti is a Belgian popular singer who is described as De Nieuwe Elvis (in Flemish) or The New Elvis. His visual and singing style are an obvious emulation of Elvis Presley, although not purely derivatively as with an Elvis impersonator. ... Will Tura (born August 2, 1940 in Veurne) is the stage name of Arthur, Knight Blanckaert, a Belgian artist famous in Flanders and the Netherlands. ... Laura Lynn can be: Laura Lynn (Belgian singer), a Flemish Belgian popular singer, who controversially participated in the anti-racist 0110 concerts Laura Lynn Ingle, the daughter of the supermarket chain owner Robert Ingle Category: ... Intimidation is generally used in the meaning of criminal threatening. ... Cordon sanitaire is a French phrase that, literally translated, means quarantine line. ...

On November 15, 2006, party leader Dewinter stated that he will deposit a complaint with De Lijn bus company, for its plan to introduce quota for the employment of immigrants. Dewinter claims that these "quota leads to anti-Flemish racism." He will also call upon the Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism to investigate. Ingrid Lieten, director of De Lijn, stated that "De Lijn is in favor of quota and will impose them, especially for women and immigrants." Vlaams Belang alleges that the introduction of the quota means different criteria will be imposed upon citizens and immigrants.^[55] De Lijn is a company run by the Flemish government in Belgium to provide public transportation, similar to the way in which Belgian railroads or the postal system is run. ... The Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism[1] (CEOOR) (Dutch: Centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding, French: Centre pour légalité des chances et la lutte contre le racisme or CECLR) is a Belgian government agency under the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Belgium. ...

In April 2007 parliamentarian Jurgen Verstrepen left the party and sided with List Dedecker. Verstrepen was originally brought into the party as a renewing force, in 2004. However, Verstrepen's push of an idea of a united right, what has been termed "Forza Flandria" has not fared well with VB party leader Vanhecke. Jurgen Verstrepen is a member of the Flemish Parliament for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... List Dedecker (Dutch: ) is a Belgian political party founded in January 2007 by Senator Jean-Marie Dedecker. ...

Electorate

In 1999, the Vlaams Blok obtained 584,392 votes for the European Parliament elections. In 2004, the party obtained 981,587 votes for the Flemish Parliament and 21,297 votes for the Brussels Parliament. Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: Vlaams Parlement, and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural and linguistic community of Belgium. ... The Council of the Region of Brussels-Capital, or Brussels Regional Parliament (French: Conseil de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale or Parlement Bruxellois, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Parlement or Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Raad), is the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium. ...

A study^[56] of the 1999 general federal elections by researchers of the KUL yielded some results on the electorate of the Vlaams Blok. The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven in English - also the translated name of its French-speaking sister university) or K.U. Leuven is a Flemish university, located in the town of Leuven in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking (northern) region of Belgium. ... In politics, an electorate is the group of people entitled to vote in an election. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ...

The study showed that it was first and foremost the low educational level that was characteristic for the Vlaams Blok voter. There didn't seem to be a correlation, or a very small one, with age, gender nor occupation.

Another characteristic was the sector of employment. People working in sectors with a very large international competition were overrepresented within the V.B. electorate, while workers from the health and social sector -with no international competition at all- usually didn't vote for the party. Job insecurity did not seem to have an effect.

As a third characteristic, researchers found that the average V.B. voter had a low idea of their economic situation. It was not certain that this corresponded with their real situation. Ethnocentricity was a strong reason to vote V.B., as was the feeling of alienation towards politics. There did not seem to be a correlation between the social-economic attitude of a voter and his/her preference for the V.B. Ethnocentricity is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of ones own culture. ... Look up alienation, alienate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Professor Carl Devos and Dries Verlet of the Political Science Department at the Ghent University see a number of characteristics that differentiate the Vlaams Belang voters from others. There are social demographic characteristics, like social economic status or level of education, and a number of personality traits or attitudes, like a more than average sympathy towards the traditional family values, law and order, or social hierarchy and authoritarianism.
Quite some V.B. voters share fear and uncertainty towards the present day Western European society. They see the expanding social and economic freedom and the diminishing influence of the state as a threatening phenomenon. They look towards far right parties hoping for a clear beacon and guidelines.^[1] Although the term social is a crucial category in social science and often used in public discourse, its meaning is often vague, suggesting that it is a fuzzy concept. ... Demographics refers to selected population characteristics as used in government, marketing or opinion research, or the demographic profiles used in such research. ... Socioeconomics or Socio-economics is the study of the relationship between economic activity and social life. ... This article is about family values as a political concept. ... In politics, law and order refers to a political platform which supports a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent crime and property crimes, through harsher criminal penalties. ... Social hierarchy, a multi-tiered pyramid-like social or functional structure having an apex as the centralization of power. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      This article applies to political and organizational ideologies. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ...

Party structure

Party organization

The Party Council is the highest organ of the Vlaams Belang party. It has about 80 members, among others the members of the Party Board, parliamentarians, local deputies and the youth organisation of the VB. The Party Council is responsible for choosing the party leader. The party executives throughout the party's organization then get to decide on the nomination. The Party Council is also responsible for fielding a candidate list at election time.

Members and staff

Party Administration

Gerolf Annemans (November 8, 1958) is a Belgian politician. ... Philip Claeys Philip Claeys (born on 24 May 1965 in Gent) is a Belgian politician and Member of the European Parliament for Flanders with the Vlaams Blok, and is therefore a Non-Inscrit in the European Parliament. ... Filip Dewinter (official spelling: Philip Dewinter, born September 11, 1962, Bruges) is a Flemish politician in Belgium. ... Karel Dillen (born 16 October 1925, Antwerp) is a Belgian politician and a Flemish nationalist. ... Joris Van Hauthem is floor leader in the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... Marie-Rose Morel (born August 26, 1972 in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian, Flemish politician and member of the Flemish Parliament for the Vlaams Belang since 2004, after leaving the N-VA. She recently moved to Schoten where she became active in local politics. ... Karim Van Overmeire is a member of the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... Frank Vanhecke Frank Vanhecke (born 30 May 1959 in Brugge) started his career in Belgian politics as a student by joining the Jong Studentenverbond and later the Nationalistische Studentenvereniging. ... Anke Vandermeersch is a Flemish politician and beauty queen born on the 27th October, 1972 in Antwerp. ...

Representation

Vlaams Belang members in the European Parliament

• Philip Claeys, floor leader
• Koen Dillen
• Frank Vanhecke

Philip Claeys Philip Claeys (born on 24 May 1965 in Gent) is a Belgian politician and Member of the European Parliament for Flanders with the Vlaams Blok, and is therefore a Non-Inscrit in the European Parliament. ... Koenraad Dillen Koenraad Dillen (born on 6 November 1964 in Mortsel) is a Belgian politician and Member of the European Parliament for Flanders with the Vlaams Belang, sitting in the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty group in the European Parliament. ... Frank Vanhecke Frank Vanhecke (born 30 May 1959 in Brugge) started his career in Belgian politics as a student by joining the Jong Studentenverbond and later the Nationalistische Studentenvereniging. ...

Vlaams Belang members in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives

Gerolf Annemans (November 8, 1958) is a Belgian politician. ... Dr. Alexandra Colen is a member of the Belgian parliament for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... Filip De Man is a member of the Belgian parliament for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... Bart Laeremans (Gent, 17 April 1966 - ) is since 21 May 1995 member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Vlaams Belang for the constituency Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. ... Frieda Van Themsche is a member of the Belgian parliament for the far right Vlaams Belang party. ...

Vlaams Belang members in the Belgian Senate

Anke Vandermeersch is a Flemish politician and beauty queen born on the 27th October, 1972 in Antwerp. ... Joris Van Hauthem is floor leader in the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... Karim Van Overmeire is a member of the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ...

Vlaams Belang members in the Flemish Parliament

Filip Dewinter (official spelling: Philip Dewinter, born September 11, 1962, Bruges) is a Flemish politician in Belgium. ... Marie-Rose Morel (born August 26, 1972 in Antwerp, Belgium) is a Belgian, Flemish politician and member of the Flemish Parliament for the Vlaams Belang since 2004, after leaving the N-VA. She recently moved to Schoten where she became active in local politics. ... Joris Van Hauthem is floor leader in the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ... Karim Van Overmeire is a member of the Belgian Senate for the Flemish movement Vlaams Belang party. ...

Vlaams Belang members in the Brussels Parliament

• Johan Demol
• Frederic Erens
• Dominiek Lootens-Stael
• Eric Lapointe
• Valérie Seyns
• Jos Van Assche

External links

• Official web page
• Official Vlaams Belang party manifesto
• Today we were executed. But we will rise: message by Vanhecke, VB's president, November 09, 2004
• Vdare.com: Anti-Immigration Party Banned In Belgium November 09, 2004
• Blokwatch Newssite by opponents to Vlaams Belang
• La face cachee du Vlaams blok Documentary by the RTBF concerning the Vlaams Blok made in 2004

November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... RTBF official logo RTBF or Radio télévision belge de la communauté française is the national broadcasting organisation of the government of the French-speaking southern part of Belgium, the counterpart to the Dutch-speaking VRT in the northern part of the country. ... Note that Flemish Block turned themselves into Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) since their condamnation in 2004 The Flemish Block (Dutch: Vlaams Blok) was a Flemish far-right nationalist political party which rejects the state of Belgium, calling for political independence for the Flemish half of the country. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

News articles

• BBC News: Blow to Belgium's far right 9 November 2004
• The Telegraph: Flemish party banned as racist by Belgium's high court 10 November 2004.
• The Washington Times: Analysis: Makeover for Flemish far-right November 15, 2004.
• The Washington Times: The emerging ‘Eurabia’ February 18, 2005.
• TIME: Life On The Front Lines: In Antwerp, the far right is facing off against muslims. Who's winning? Vol.165 No.9 | February 28, 2005.
• Haaretz: Between Haider and a Hard Place - Wednesday 31 August 2005 (discussed at American Renaissance [3])

is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

v • d • e Political parties in Belgium
Flemish parties	Christian Democratic and Flemish · Flemish Interest · Flemish Liberals and Democrats · Green! · List Dedecker · New-Flemish Alliance · Socialist Party – Different · spirit · VLOTT
Francophone parties	Ecolo · Humanist Democratic Centre · National Front · Reformist Movement (component parties: Citizens' Movement for Change · Democratic Front of Francophones · Liberal Reformist Party) · Socialist Party
German parties	Christian Social Party · Party for Freedom and Progress (component party of the MR) · Party of German-speaking Belgians
Pan-Belgian	Vivant