2024-01-21 18:42:18
Vlaams Belang took advantage of the traditional New Year’s reception to present, on Sunday, the main lines of its campaign for the June election. This promises to be decisive, because the far-right formation might emerge as the leading party in Flanders, even if its participation in a regional government remains hypothetical.
For the president of Vlaams Belang, Tom Van Grieken, the elections of June 9 will allow the Flemish to choose between the immobility of the traditional parties or a “different” and “better” policy. Vlaams Belang is the “only alternative”, he declared in front of the party’s leaders gathered in Heusden-Zolder, near Hasselt.
To join the Flemish government, however, Vlaams Belang would have to find at least one coalition partner. However, the far-right party is rejected by all the other parties, due to the sanitary cordon, even if the N-VA has carefully avoided the subject lately.
Tom Van Grieken noted on Sunday that immigration would be an important theme of the campaign, a subject neglected by the other parties according to him. “The left’s policy of open borders is a total disaster in Europe and especially in Belgium. (…) A real replacement (‘omvolking’ in the text, Editor’s note) is underway. This is the result of decades of uncontrolled mass migration.
Last week, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called for an investigation following Vlaams Belang MEP Tom Vandendriessche used the same “replacement” rhetoric. The expression, widespread in the conspiratorial sphere, might be incompatible with the internal regulations of the assembly which require parliamentarians to refrain from “offensive remarks” and to respect the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Tom Van Grieken also attacked the N-VA on Sunday and its idea of a “temporary cabinet” at the federal level following the elections. This would model itself on the regional majorities and would decide in particular on the budget and urgent socio-economic reforms. “We do not need a technocratic N-VA/PS government, but a democratic government, respectful of Flemish democracy,” said Mr. Van Grieken.
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