New Flemish Alliance
Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie |
|
---|---|
Leader | Bart De Wever |
Founder | Geert Bourgeois |
Founded | 2001 |
Preceded by |
People's Union (split in 2001) |
Headquarters | Koningsstraat 47, bus 6 B-1000 Brussels Belgium |
Membership (2014) | 41,176 |
Ideology |
Flemish nationalism Regionalism Separatism Liberal conservatism |
Political position | Centre-right |
European affiliation | European Free Alliance |
European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists |
Colors | Black, gold |
Chamber of Representatives (Flemish seats) |
33 / 87
|
Senate (Flemish seats) |
12 / 35
|
Flemish Parliament |
43 / 124
|
Brussels Parliament (Flemish seats) |
3 / 17
|
European Parliament (Flemish seats) |
4 / 12
|
Flemish Provincial Councils |
104 / 351
|
Website | |
www.n-va.be | |
The New Flemish Alliance (Dutch: Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist and conservativepolitical party in Belgium, founded in 2001. The N-VA is a regionalist and separatist movement that self-identifies with the promotion of civic nationalism. It is part of the Flemish Movement, and strives for the peaceful and gradual secession of Flanders from Belgium. In recent years it has become the largest party of Flanders as well as of Belgium as a whole, and leads the 2014–19 Flemish Government.
Following the 2014 elections, the New Flemish Alliance is the largest Belgian/Flemish political party in the European Parliament, with its four MEPs sitting with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) parliamentary group.
The party is also known for its insistence on the exclusive use of Dutch, Flanders' sole official language, in dealings with government agencies, and for the promotion of the use of Dutch in Flanders as the language enabling integration. The main objective of the party is to work on Flemish independence by gradually obtaining more powers for both Belgian communities separately. Furthermore, it emphasizes its non-revolutionary and pro-European character (as opposed to the far-right and Eurosceptic character of the Vlaams Belang) in order to legitimize increased Flemish autonomy. The N-VA advocates free-market economics, and their manifesto proposes immediate tax reductions to stimulate the economy. They also advocate deepening ties with the European Union.