2024-01-21 08:28:00
“It is extremely important that our story is also heard in Flanders,” assured Dutch far-right leader Thierry Baudet on Saturday evening in Genk. There he launched the Flemish branch of his Forum for Democracy (FvD) party. The objective is for this group to also present itself in the European elections next June.
“We are part of the same nation, we launched the same movement six hundred years ago. It is strange that Flanders is part of Belgium,” said the party leader, who made reference several times on Saturday evening in the North and South Netherlands. “If we have to cooperate with each other in a European context, it is strange that the ‘Dutch’ do not do it,” Baudet said.
The populist wants the FvD to also offer an alternative in Flanders to other (right-wing) parties. He argues that Vlaams Belang in Flanders, and Geert Wilders’ PVV in the Netherlands, are made of the same cloth. “The Vlaams Belang believes that Israel is more important than Europe, did nothing during the coronavirus crisis, and supports Ukraine instead of our biggest European ally, Russia,” continued the Dutchman.
Controversial personality, Thierry Baudet was violently beaten this Thursday evening in Ghent before giving a conference (VIDEO)
Nevertheless, Mr. Baudet promised to “not get in the way” of Vlaams Belang, at least during the national elections. “We hope that they will do as well as possible and that they will obtain independence (from Belgium). Then we will ensure that Flanders can leave the EU.”
Over the coming months, the FvD will seek to recruit a new leader in Flanders. The group currently has a representative in the European Parliament, Marcel de Graaff. He was part of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, which includes the Italian League, the French National Rally (RN) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. But due to his divergent views on Ukraine and pro-Russia, Mr. De Graaff left this group in 2022.
In the recent parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, the FvD won three seats.
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