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{{POV}}
{{Infobox_Belgian_Political_Party |
party_name = Vlaams Belang|
party_logo =[[Image:Vlaams_belang_logo.gif|150px]] |
party_wikicolourid = Vlaams Belang |
leader = [[Frank Vanhecke]] |
foundation = [[2004]] |
ideology = [[nationalism]], [[conservatism]] |
international = ''none'' |
european = ''none'' |
europarl = [[Non-Inscrits]] |
colours = Yellow/Black |
cartel = VB/[[VLOTT]] <br> (only in municipal elections) |
names = [[Vlaams Blok]] |
headquarters = national secretariat <br>Madouplein 8 bus 9 Brussel |
website = [http://www.vlaamsbelang.be/ www.vlaamsbelang.be]
}}
'''Vlaams Belang''' ([[English language|English]]: ''Flemish Interest'') is a [[political party]] in [[Belgium]] that supports [[Flemish movement|Flemish independence]] and strict limits on [[immigration]], including the deportation of immigrants who fail to integrate.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Belgium: Far-right party calls for Jewish support|url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3311572,00.html|format= |work= | publisher= [[Ynet]]|pages= |page= | date= [[2006-10-05]]| accessdate= 2006-10-14| language= }}</ref> Although the party characterizes its current policies as those of a traditional [[conservatism|conservative party]], many reputable observers describe it as [[far right]]<ref name="DevosVerlet">{{nl icon}}[http://www.mo.be/article.aspx?ed_id=57&a_id=469&type=mondiaal Democratie went niet aan extreem-rechts] ("''Democracy doesn't get accustomed to the far right''"), MO*, June 2006, p. 51</ref><ref>{{nl icon}}Hooghe, Marc. "Ik of de chaos"-recept speelt in voordeel van Patrick Janssens ("'''Me or chaos'-recipe gives advantage to Patrick Janssens''"), [[De Tijd]], 12 September 2006, p. 4.</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Poll gain for Belgium's far right|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6032331.stm|format= [[HTML]]|work= | publisher= [[BBC]]|pages= |page= | date= [[2006-10-09]]| accessdate= 2006-10-14| language= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Far-right party suffers rebuff in Antwerp|url= http://198.65.148.234/world/20061009-101945-5917r.htm|format= HTML|work= | publisher= [[The Washington Times]]|pages= |page= | date= [[2006-10-10]]| accessdate= 2006-10-14| language= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Philippe|last= Siuberski|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title= Far-right makes strong showing in Belgian local elections
AFP|url= http://uk.news.yahoo.com/08102006/323/far-right-makes-strong-showing-belgian-local-elections.html|format=|work= | publisher= [[Agence France-Presse]]|pages= |page= | date= [[2006-10-08]]| accessdate= 2006-10-14| language= English}}</ref>.
== History ==
===Volksunie and Vlaams Blok===
{{Main|Volksunie|Vlaams Blok}}
Like its predecessors, the [[Volksunie]] and [[Vlaams Blok]], the Vlaams Belang is part of the diverse [[Flemish movement]]. When the Volkunie in the [[1970s]], under party president [[Hugo Schiltz]] attracted more [[Progressivism|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]].<ref>{{nl icon}} "Ik wilde iets doen voor mijn volk" ("'' 'I wanted to do something for my people' ''"), Gazet van Antwerpen, 7 August 2006, page 3.</ref>
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 [[Member of Parliament|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.<ref>{{nl icon}} {{cite book
| last = Witte
| first = Els
| coauthors = Craeybeckx, Jan
| title = Politieke geschiedenis van België sinds 1830 (Political History of Belgium Since 1830)
| publisher = Standaard Wetenschappelijke Uitgeverij
| date = 1985
| ___location = Antwerpen
| pages = 555-556
| id = ISBN 90-02-15260-4 }}</ref>
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 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 [[Hof van Cassatie|High Court]] in November 2004.<ref>[http://jackosheas.com/news/newsstory.cfm?story_no=1124 Court says Vlaams Blok conviction is sound], ''Expatriate Online'', retrieved January 26, 2006.</ref>.
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.<ref>[http://www.nrc.nl/next/article505778.ece]</ref> Comments made by the party leadership read along the same line.<ref>"The well behaved right wing is a fantasy. The Vlaams Belang is the Vlaams Blok." "[...] political commentators thought or hoped that the Vlaams Belang would abjure the Vlaams Blok, to become a large conservative party for Flanders. We never saw it that way. From the conviction and the foundation of the new party on or credo was : we are the same and we will remain the same. We only change our name because we have to." Gerolf Annemans, P-Magazine, 27 September 2005.</ref> The [[Belgian State Security Service]] noted that the party was forced to change her name and the rid the programme from racist elements.<ref>[http://www.nrc.nl/next/article505778.ece]</ref> The "launch of the new name Vlaams Belang was paired with a publicity campaign that had the intention of creating an image of respectability,"<ref>{{cite web|title=Year report 2005|url=http://www.standaard.be/extra/pdf/staatsveiligheid.pdf|publisher=[[Belgian State Security Service]]}}</ref>
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 in meetings.
Vlaams Belang supporters, such as [[New-Flemish Alliance|N-VA]] member and law professor [[Matthias Storme]], see the trial in which the Vlaams Blok was condemned as a political trial.<ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.heemland.nl/hl30-Discrimineren_is_mensenrecht.htm Discrimineren is een mensenrecht] (''Discrimination is a human right''), Katholiek Nieuwsblad, 21 January 2005</ref> Some also claim that the Belgian establishment has changed the law for the purpose of this trial.<ref>[http://www.stephenpollard.net/001564.html I've seen the future: it's scary and Belgian]</ref> ''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."<ref>{{cite news|title=28 Vlamingen roepen op tot politieke aanpak Vlaams Blok|publisher=[[De Standaard]]|date=[[2003-03-08]]}}</ref>
According to professor Lamine ([[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|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."<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.demorgen.be/archief/artikel.html?i=MjMxMTA=&log_query_id=1696244&articletable=artikels2006&keyword=Luc%20Lamine Eigen voetvolk bijlange niet meer eerst], De Morgen, 22 July 2006, p. 26 <small>(subscription required)</small>.</ref> 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<!--Lamine heeft dus zichzelf en ons in de voet geschoten-->." Law professor Lamine denied this: "The party legal department's head doesn't know what he's doing."<ref>{{nl icon}} {{cite news | title=[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=GSFD350H Vlaams Belang niet in beroep tegen veroordeling] | publisher=De Standaard | date=[[2005-03-07]]}}</ref>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.<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.vlaamsparlement.be/vpWeb/p3app/htmlpages/vp/Pdf/20042005/Home/NotaArrestVB.pdf Vlaams Blok-arrest: beknopte analyse van de gevolgen door de juridische dienst van het Vlaams Parlement]</ref>
[[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''."<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:i74c-h7KjbMJ:mor.presscollection.com/20041115/public/pages/Krant001/articles/MOR-20041115-Krant001005.html+%22De+namen+van+alle+juridische+hoofdrolspelers+uit+dat+proces+staan+voorgoed+in+het+geheugen+van+d%C3%A9ze+jurist+gegrift:+ze+zijn+gewaarschuwd%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 De Morgen]</ref> 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]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Liga Overweegt Klacht Tegen Gerolf Annemans: Ook Wetstraat en Magistratuur reageren verontwaardigd op Uitspraken|publisher=[[De Tijd]]|date=[[2004-11-14]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Twee Gentse Magistraten In|publisher=[[De Tijd]]|date=[[2000-03-01]]}}</ref>
===Elections===
The Vlaams Belang took part in the [[Belgian municipal elections, 2006|2006 municipal elections]] on the theme of "Secure, Flemish, Liveable."
In [[Antwerp]], the Vlaams Belang lost out to the [[Socialist Party - Different|Socialist Party]] at the municipal level. The VB-VLOTT got 20 seats like VB did in 2000. In 2006, 18 seats go to Vlaams Belang and 2 to VLOTT.
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 of Belgium|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=N-VA wil geen meerderheid met PVDA in district Hoboken|url=http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_274618.html|publisher=[[Het Laatste Nieuws]]|date=[[2006-10-11]]}}</ref>
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''.
==Ideology and issues==
Vlaams Belang advocates independence for [[Flanders]] and strict limitations on [[immigration]]. It is part of the militant wing of the [[Flemish movement]] and is a [[nationalist]] party.
===Party platform===
Some of the main points in the platform include:
* Independence for Flanders. One stated reason for this are the alleged [[financial]] transfers from [[Flanders]] towards [[Brussels]] and [[Wallonia]] (the other parts of [[Belgium]]) which Vlaams Belang considers to be unjustified.<ref>[http://www.irishclub.be/news/newsstory.cfm?story_no=1737 The gap between Flanders and Wallonia widens], Expatriate Online, 20 May 2005</ref> Vlaams Belang sees the accompanying high employment cost as very negative for Flanders’ competitiveness.{{fact}} The bilingual [[Brussels-Capital Region|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 [[Dietsland|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 [[immigrant]]s 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 (Belgium)|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 [[Region]]s, 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#Wartime collaboration|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 (theory)|self-defense]] to the [[Defense of property|defense of home, shop and property]].
* Increased child [[benefit]]s, 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 [[Programme for International Student Assessment|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. <ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.vlaamsbelang.be/index.php?p=0&id=1886 Allochtonen en onderwijs] (''Allochtones and education''), 16 May 2006</ref> The party nevertheless advocates the preservation of the current education system.
* Repeal of the ''[[anti-racism]]'' and ''anti-discrimination'' legislations on the grounds of [[Freedom of speech|free speech]].
* Repeal the 2003 Belgian ''nuclear power exit by 2025'' legislation. Vlaams Belang wants to revamp the existing [[nuclear power plant]]s instead of building new ones in France, which would cost many times more.{{fact}}
* [[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 fund]]s 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. <ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.vlaamsbelang.org/index.php?p=32&id=6&manid=5 Ondernemend Vlaanderen (Toespraak Gerolf Annemans)] (''Enterprising Flanders (Speech Gerolf Annemans)''), 26 November 2005</ref>
* Abolition of the Belgian [[trade union]]s' unique pay-counter function for unemployment benefits, to step up the trade unions' global interest in creating employment.
===''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.<ref>[http://stemmenkampioen.hln.be/images/results/politiek_aandeel_sept_2005.gif "Political market shares Stemmenkampioen September 2005"]</ref> 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|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 unsound. 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]].
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 are signs that the cordon sanitaire may be breached in some municipalities.
Critics of the Cordon Sanitaire argue that it is undemocratic, or that it is not effective in fighting the Vlaams Belang. Indeed, several figures in the other major Flemish political parties question its viability, and many have participated in debates with VB politicians.
In an interview with the popular weekly [[Humo]], [[Flanders|Flemish]] [[Prime minister|PM]] [[Yves Leterme]] ([[CD&V]]) however declared that a local chapter of his party that would go with the Vlaams Belang, wouldn't be considered a part of the [[CD&V]] anymore.<ref>[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF28082006_084 Leterme geeft voorakkoorden toe] ("''Leterme admits pre-electoral agreements''"), De Standaard, 28/08/2006 <small>(subscription needed)</small></ref>
===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<ref name="funding">Belgian political parties get public funding from both federal and regional parliaments, while private funding is restricted.</ref> <ref name="vlaamsparlement">When Vlaams Belang was first formed, the funding for the new party in the [[Flemish Parliament]] had to be settled. On the one hand the Flemish Parliament statute book doesn’t grant funding to new parties without going to the polls (which would apply to the Vlaams Belang if it were a new party), but on the other hand it can withdraw funding from ‘racist’ parties (which would apply to the Vlaams Belang if it was still the same party as the convicted Vlaams Blok). Vlaams Belang argued that they are the legal successors of Vlaams Blok ''yet were a different party''. The Flemish Parliamentary office which decides such cases, and where Vlaams Belang’s political competitors have a majority, decided that Vlaams Blok and Vlaams Belang were the same party and thus both “guilty of racism”. But nevertheless, they did not cut the party funding.</ref> (see [[the Belgian "dry up" law]]). On the Flemish level, there is no political majority 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.
On [[May 18]], [[2006]], the minority organization ''Kif Kif'' and MRAX (''Movement against Racism, Antisemitism and Xenophobia''), backed (as demanded by [[The Belgian "dry up" law|law]]) by the political parties [[Social Progressive Alternative|sp.a]], [[Spirit (Belgium)|spirit]], [[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|PS]], [[Reformist Movement|MR]] and [[Humanist Democratic Centre|CDh]] (the parties also paid for the legal translation of the complaint <ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelid=GCISFSM3 Eindelijk klacht tegen Vlaams Belang] (''Finally complaint against Vlaams Belang''), De Standaard, 19 May 2006</ref>), filed a complaint against Vlaams Belang with the Belgian [[Council of State (Belgium)|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."<ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_209814.html Partijen vragen dotatie Vlaams Belang af te nemen] (''Parties ask to stop dotation Vlaams Belang''), HLN.be</ref> 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.<ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF18052006_031 Partijen vragen Raad van State dotatie Belang af te nemen] (''Parties ask Council of State to stop dotation Vlaams Belang''), De Standaard, 18 May 2006.</ref>
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.<ref>[http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/versie2/english/details/061018_vlaamsbelang/index.shtml Vlaams Belang risks losing subsidies], ''[[VRT]]'', 2006-10-18. Retrieved on 2006-10-18.</ref>
===Issues===
Some members, such as [[Roeland Raes]] have been accused of being [[Nazism|Nazi]] sympathizers.<ref>[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DST16032001_001 Complaint against Raes], De Standaard, 16 march 2001.</ref> Roeland Raes was charged with [[Historical revisionism (negationism)|negationism]] in accordance with the [[Belgian Negationism Law]], specifically for uttering the following controversial sentence: “whether it was planned that they should all die during the war is another question”.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,449278,00.html 'Belgium's far right party in Holocaust controversy '], the Guardian, Friday March 9, 2001 -
{{nl icon}}[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DST16032001_001 Centrum-Leman dient klacht in tegen Raes ("''Centre Leman files complaint against Raes''")], De Standaard, Friday 16 March 2001</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Videoband in zaak Roeland Raes zoek|publisher=[[De Standaard]]|data=[[2006-04-06]]}}</ref> 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.
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.’"<ref>[http://www.filipdewinter.be/page.php?linkID=238 The Season Of Dewinter?], ''[[The Jewish Week]]'', 9 December 2005.</ref>
Politicians, like prime minister [[Guy Verhofstadt]] (VLD), [[Karel De Gucht]] (VLD) and the late [[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."
<ref>[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G33B6RSA Zeg niet zomaar "fascist" tegen Dewinter] ("''Don't just call Dewinter a "fascist"''"), De Standaard, 23 december 2004.<br />[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=G0CB2JMK "De waarheid kwetst"] ("''"Truth hurts"''"), De Standaard, 17 december 2004.</ref><ref name="Intro">See an [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_mystery_of_Dewinter%27s_%22unalloyed_Fascism%22 article] by Flemish [[secessionist]] and former [[N-VA]] deputy chairman Eric Defoort contesting the historical accuracy of the use (by Belgian [[Prime Minister|PM]] [[Guy Verhofstadt]] of the [[liberal]] (in the European sense) [[VLD]]) of the expression "genuine fascist" to qualify the Vlaams Belang.</ref><ref name="fortuyn">[http://www.demorgen.be/archief/artikel.html?i=MTcwNzY1&log_query_id=1729561&articletable=artikels2002&keyword=Fortuyn%20Dewinter%20fascist 'Verhofstadt zoekt het maar uit'] (''"Verhofstadt is on his own"''), De Morgen, 3 May 2002.</ref>
[[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."<ref name="dirty">[http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF31012006_030 Hirsi Ali wil Vlaams Belang verbieden] (''Hirsi Ali wants to ban Vlaams Belang''), De Standaard, 31 January 2006.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.vlaamsbelang.org/index.php?p=0&id=1491 Beledigen is een recht]</ref> Vlaams Belang also wrote an open letter to Hirsi Ali.<ref>[http://www.vlaamsbelang.org/index.php?p=1&id=226 Open brief aan Ayaan Hirsi Ali]</ref>
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.<ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.gva.be/nieuws/Antwerpen/default.asp?art={57E488EA-D282-4A26-A4E6-FE6C6A5C92B5} Bart Debie verwezen naar correctionele rechtbank] (''Bart Debie sent to correctional court''), Gazet van Antwerpen, 31 May 2006. - {{nl icon}} [http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_215615.html Ex-politiecommissaris Bart Debie (Vlaams Belang) naar strafrechter] (''Former chief of police Bart Debie (Vlaams Belang) to criminal court''), Het Laatste Nieuws, 31 May 2006.</ref>
On [[October 1]] 2006, a week before the [[Belgian municipal elections, 2006|municipal elections]], free concerts ''against intolerance'', named [http://www.0110.be/ ''0110''], were organised in [[Antwerp]], [[Brussels]], [[Ghent]] and [[Charleroi]]. The Antwerp concert received over 40,000 spectators, the total was over 100,000.<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF01102006_022 Meer dan 100.000 mensen feesten voor verdraagzaamheid] ("''Over 100,000 people celebrate for tolerance''"), De Standaard, 1 October 2006.</ref> Vlaams Belang sees this as a direct attack by the establishment,<ref>[http://www.vlaamsbelang.be/index.php Nationale loterij ...], Vlaams Belang</ref> 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.<ref>{{nl icon}}[http://www.tijd.be/krant/artikel.asp?ec=TIJD&id=95638351&pg=44 Banken schuwen controverse rond 0110], De Tijd, 30 September 2006.</ref> The Antwerp mayor [[Patrick Janssens]] ([[SP.a]]) disapproved of the concerts.<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_228830.html Politieke steun voor Concert van Verdraagzaamheid], ("''Political Support for Tolerance Concert''"), Het Laatste Nieuws</ref> The party also referred<ref>[http://www.vlaamsbelang.be/index.php Barman en vrienden], Vlaams Belang</ref> to the fact that the official website of the event specifically stated that ''Flanders deserves better than extreme right''<ref>[http://www.0110.be/Charter/ 01/10 Antwerpen, Brussel, Gent]</ref> and that [[Tom Barman]], the main organisor, had already announced in [[2005]] that he was planning a concert ''against Vlaams Belang'' in [[October 2006]].<ref>''Knack'', [[April 6]], [[2005]]</ref> The party wrote an open letter to famous [[Flanders|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.<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_228524.html Dewinter schrijft open brief naar artiesten] ("''Dewinter Writes Open Letter to Artists''"), Het Laatste Nieuws</ref> One Vlaams Belang council member called upon the readers of his web log to start a "mail bombardment" to the concerned artists.<ref>{{nl icon}} Tom Cochez, ''Vlaams Belang voert strijd tegen concert voor verdraagzaamheid op'' ("''Vlaams Belang Intensifies Battle against Concert for Tolerance''"), De Morgen, 8 July 2006.</ref> Critics spoke of an [[intimidation]] campaign by the party.<ref>{{nl icon}} Jeroen Verelst, ''Muzikanten zwichten niet voor intimidatie Vlaams Belang'' ("''Musicians Don't Give In to Intimidation by Vlaams Belang''"), De Morgen, 5 July 2006.</ref> 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.<ref>{{nl icon}} "''Indien het werkelijk om concerten tegen de onverdraagzaamheid zou gaan, zou het Vlaams Belang eregast moeten zijn.''", Gazet van Antwerpen, [http://www.gva.be/nieuws/antwerpen/default.asp?art={E7140336-EB1E-4CED-ADA1-F511722A38B1} VB: "0110-concerten tegen Vlaams Belang"] "''VB : '0110 concerts against Vlaams Belang' ''"), 1 October</ref>
On November 15, 2006, party leader Dewinter stated that he will deposit a complaint with [[De Lijn]] bus company, for its plan to introduce a quota for the employment of immigrants. Dewinter claims that this "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 for a quota and will impose one, especially for women and immigrants." Vlaams Belang alleges that the introduction of the quota means different criteria will be imposed upon citizens and immigrants.<ref>{{nl icon}}{{cite news|title=Dewinter dient racismeklacht in tegen De Lijn|url=http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF15112006_049|publisher=[[De Standaard]]|date=[[2006-11-15]]}}</ref>
==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]].
A study<ref>{{nl icon}} Depickere, A. and Swyngedouw, M. Verklaringen voor het succes van extreem rechts getoetst (''Explanations for the success of the far right reviewed''), In : Swyngedouw, M. and Billiet, J. (eds) De kiezer heeft zijn redenen (''The voter has his reasons''), Leuven/Leusden, Acco, 2002, pp. 1-26.</ref> of the 1999 general federal elections by researchers of the [[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|KUL]] yielded some results on the [[electorate]] of the [[Vlaams Blok]].
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.
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]] [[demographics|demographic]] characteristics, like [[socioeconomics|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 (politics)|law and order]], or [[social hierarchy]] and [[authoritarianism]].<br />
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.<ref name="DevosVerlet">Democratie went niet aan extreem-rechts</ref>
==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====
{|
| valign="top" width="30%" |
* [[Gerolf Annemans]], director study institute
* [[Jurgen Ceder]]
* [[Philip Claeys]], editor VB magazine
* [[Bart Debie]], security advisor
* [[Johan Demol]]
* [[Filip Dewinter]], director organization
* [[Marijke Dillen]]
| valign="top" width="35%" |
* [[Karel Dillen]], honorary chairman
* [[Francis Van den Eynde]], director VVBM
* [[Joris Van Hauthem]]
* [[Marie-Rose Morel]]
* [[Luk Van Nieuwenhuysen]], party vice-chairman
* [[Bert Schoofs]]
| valign="top" |
* [[Karim Van Overmeire]]
* [[Frank Vanhecke]], party chairman
* [[Patsy Vatlet]], party treasurer
* [[Anke Vandermeersch]]
* [[Wim Verreycken]]
* [[Hans Verreyt]], chairman VBJ
* [[Luc Vermeulen]], security chief
|}
==Representation==
===Vlaams Belang members in the European Parliament===
* [[Philip Claeys]], floor leader
* [[Koenraad Dillen|Koen Dillen]]
* [[Frank Vanhecke]]
===Vlaams Belang members in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives===
{|
| valign="top" |
* [[Gerolf Annemans]], floor leader
* [[Marleen Beckers-Govaerts]]
* [[Koen Bultinck]]
* [[Nancy Caslo]]
* [[Alexandra Colen]]
* [[Guy D'Haeseleer]]
| valign="top" |
* [[Filip De Man]]
* [[Ortwin Depoortere]]
* [[Hagen Goyvaerts]]
* [[Bart Laeremans]]
* [[Jan Mortelmans]]
* [[Staf Neel]]
| valign="top" |
* [[Bert Schoofs]]
* [[Luc Sevenhans]]
* [[Guido Tastenhoye]]
* [[Jaak Van Den Broeck]]
* [[Francis Van Den Eynde]]
* [[Frieda Van Themsche]]
|}
===Vlaams Belang members in the Belgian Senate===
{|
| valign="top" |
* [[Yves Buysse]]
* [[Jurgen Ceder]]
* [[Frank Creyleman]]
* [[Nele Jansegers]]
* [[Anke Vandermeersch]]
* [[Joris Van Hauthem]], floor leader
| valign="top" |
* [[Karim Van Overmeire]]
* [[Wim Verreycken]]
|}
===Vlaams Belang members in the Flemish Parliament===
{|
| valign="top" |
* [[Filip Dewinter]], floor leader
* [[Erik Arckens]]
* [[Thieu Boutsen]]
* [[Agnes Bruyninckx]]
* [[Hilde De Lobel]]
* [[Herman De Reuse]]
* [[Johan Deckmyn]]
* [[Marijke Dillen]]
* [[Pieter Huybrechts]]
* [[Werner Marginet]]
* [[Katleen Martens]]
| valign="top" |
* [[An Michiels]]
* [[Monique Moens]]
* [[Marie-Rose Morel]]
* [[Jan Penris]]
* [[Stefaan Sintobin]]
* [[Felix Strackx]]
* [[Erik Tack]]
* [[Marleen Van den Eynde]]
* [[Wim Van Dijck]]
* [[Freddy Van Gaever]]
* [[Roland Van Goethem]]
| valign="top" |
* [[Joris Van Hauthem]]
* [[Greet Van Linter]]
* [[Luk Van Nieuwenhuysen]]
* [[Karim Van Overmeire]]
* [[Gerda Van Steenberge]]
* [[Christian Verougstraete]]
* [[Jurgen Verstrepen]]
* [[Linda Vissers]]
* [[John Vrancken]]
* [[Frans Wymeersch]]
|}
===Vlaams Belang members in the Brussels Parliament===
* [[Johan Demol]]
* [[Frederic Erens]]
* [[Dominiek Lootens-Stael]]
* [[Eric Lapointe (politician)|Eric Lapointe]]
* [[Valérie Seyns]]
* [[Jos Van Assche]]
==External links==
* [http://www.vlaamsbelang.be/ Official web page]
* [http://www.flemishrepublic.org/manifesto.htm Official Vlaams Belang party manifesto]
* [http://vlaamsblok.be/site_engels_index.shtml Today we were executed. But we will rise]: message by Vanhecke, VB's president, November 09, 2004
* [http://vdare.com/misc/belien_041109_belgium.htm Vdare.com: Anti-Immigration Party Banned In Belgium] November 09, 2004
* [http://www.blokwatch.be/ Blokwatch] Newssite by opponents to Vlaams Belang
===News articles===
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3995341.stm BBC News: ''Blow to Belgium's far right''] 9 November, 2004
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/10/wbelg10.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/11/10/ixportal.html The Telegraph: ''Flemish party banned as racist by Belgium's high court''] 10 November, 2004
* [http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041115-124213-7311r.htm The Washington Times: Analysis: ''Makeover for Flemish far-right''] November 15, 2004
* [http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050217-084155-2847r.htm The Washington Times: ''The emerging ‘Eurabia’''] February 18, 2005
* [http://www.time.com/time/europe/html/050228/story.html 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
* [http://www.minorites.org/article.php?IDA=11455 Haaretz: ''Between Haider and a Hard Place'' ] - Wednesday 31 August, 2005 (discussed at American Renaissance [http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2005/08/between_haider.php#] )
==References==
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{{Belgian political parties}}
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties]]
[[Category:Belgian political parties-Flanders]]
[[Category:Secessionist organizations]]
[[Category:Anti-Islam sentiment]]
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