Vlaams Belang
|
Flemish Interest
Vlaams Belang |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Tom Van Grieken |
| Founded | 14 November 2004 |
| Preceded by | Vlaams Blok |
| Headquarters | Madouplein 8 bus 9 1210 Brussels |
| Youth wing | Vlaams Belang Jongeren |
| Membership (2014) |
 17,255 |
| Ideology |
Flemish nationalism Right-wing populism Euroscepticism Separatism Conservatism |
| Political position | Right-wing to Far-right |
| European affiliation | Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom |
| European Parliament group | Europe of Nations and Freedom |
| Colours | Yellow, Black |
|
Chamber of Representatives (Flemish seats) |
3 / 87
|
|
Senate (Flemish seats) |
2 / 35
|
| Flemish Parliament |
6 / 124
|
|
Brussels Parliament (Flemish seats) |
1 / 17
|
|
European Parliament (Flemish seats) |
1 / 12
|
| Flemish Provincial Councils |
29 / 351
|
| Website | |
| www.vlaamsbelang.org | |
Vlaams Belang (VB; Dutch for "Flemish Interest") is a right-wing populist and Flemish nationalist political party in the Flemish Region and Brussels of Belgium.
Vlaams Belang originated from Vlaams Blok, which adopted its new name and changed some controversial parts of its statute after a trial in 2004 condemned the party for racism. It has since sought to change its image from a radical to a more conservative party, and has distanced itself from some of its former programs. Most other parties have continued the cordon sanitaire which was originally agreed on against the former party, effectively blocking the Vlaams Belang from any executive power, and attempts on cutting public subsidies specifically for the party were made through the Belgian draining law.
The direct predecessor of the Vlaams Belang was the Vlaams Blok, which was formed by the nationalist right-wing of the People's Union which had emerged in the late 1970s. The ideology of the Vlaams Blok started out with its radical nationalist rejection of the People's Union compromise on the Flemish autonomy issue, and later increasingly focused on immigration and security, exploitation of political scandals, and defense of traditional values. The immigration positions of the Vlaams Blok was subject to much controversy, and the party was forced to disband in 2004 after a political trial ruled that it sanctioned discrimination. By then, the party was the most popular Flemish party, supported by about one in four of the Flemish electorate, and was one of the most successful parties considered to be right-wing populist in Europe as a whole.
In Belgium in 2001, Roeland Raes, the ideologue and vice-president of Vlaams Blok, gave an interview on Dutch TV where he cast doubt over the number of Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. In the same interview he questioned the scale of the Nazis' use of gas chambers and the authenticity of Anne Frank's diary. In response to the media assault following the interview, Raes was forced to resign his position but vowed to remain active within the party.
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Wikipedia