New Flemish Alliance
| New Flemish Alliance Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Bart De Wever |
| Founder | Geert Bourgeois |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Preceded by | Volksunie (split in 2001) |
| Headquarters | Koningsstraat 47, bus 6 B-1000 Brussel Belgium |
| Ideology | Flemish nationalism, Liberal conservatism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| European affiliation | European Free Alliance |
| European Parliament Group | Greens-EFA |
| Official colors | Yellow, black |
| Chamber of Representatives |
27 / 150
|
| Senate |
14 / 71
|
| Flemish Parliament |
17 / 124
|
| European Parliament |
1 / 22
|
| Website | |
| www.n-va.be | |
| Politics of Belgium Political parties Elections |
|
Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (English: New Flemish Alliance, abbreviated as N-VA) is a Flemish right-wing political party, founded in the autumn of 2001.[1] It is a conservative and liberal movement that promotes civic nationalism.[2] It is part of the Flemish Movement, and strives for the peaceful[3] and gradual secession of Flanders from Belgium.[4]
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.[2] They currently participate in the Flemish Government, in coalition with the Christian democratic CD&V and socialist sp.a.[5]
After initially struggling with the election threshold, the N-VA operated as part of an alliance with CD&V. They ran together in the 2004 regional elections and 2007 federal elections, winning both. The alliance ended in 2008 due to lack of progression in state reform negotiations, leaving the regional government and running separately in 2009 in the Flemish election, winning sixteen seats, and European election, winning one seat. It joined the regional government again and currently holds two out of nine minister seats in the cabinet.[5]
As of the 2010 federal elections the party gained a substantial plurality in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium with 28% of the votes in Flanders and 17% of the national vote, becoming the largest party in both Flanders and Belgium altogether. This was the first time in which a non-traditional political party dominated the outcome of a Belgian election.[6]
The main objective of the party is to work on great institutional reforms by gradually obtaining more powers for both Belgian regions separately. Furthermore, it emphasizes its non-revolutionary and pro-European character (as opposed to the far-right character of the Vlaams Belang) in order to legitimize increased Flemish autonomy.[7]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Fall of the People's Union
The N-VA stems from People's Union (Dutch: Volksunie, abbreviated as VU), a Belgian political party and broad electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists. Towards the end of the 20th century, with a steadily declining electorate and the majority of the party's federalist agenda implemented, friction between several wings of the People's Union emerged. In the beginning of the 1990s, Bert Anciaux became party president and led the party in an ever more progressive direction, combining the social-liberal ideas of his new iD21-movement with the regionalist course of the People's Union. These experiments were opposed by the more traditional centre-right wing of the party base.
Tension rose towards the end of the decade, as Geert Bourgeois, foreman of the traditional and centre-right nationalist wing, was elected chairman by party members, above the incumbent and progressive Patrik Vankrunkelsven. Factions subsequently clashed multiple times, over the future course of the party and possible support to current state reform negotiations. On October, 13 2001 the party openly split into three factions: The progressive wing around Bert Anciaux, which would later become the Spirit party, the conservative nationalist wing around Geert Bourgeois and a centre group opposing the imminent split. A party referendum was held on the future of the party, where the right wing gained a substantial plurality of 47% and inherited the party infrastructure. Since no faction got over 50%, however, the name Volksunie could no longer be used.
[edit] Foundation and the election threshold
In the autumn of 2001, the New-Flemish Alliance (Dutch: Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie or N-VA) was founded. Seven members of parliament for the People's Union joined the new party. The new party council created a party manifesto and a statement of principles. The first party congress was held in May 2002, voting on a party program and permanent party structures. Geert Bourgeois was elected chairman.
The party participated in elections for the first time in the 2003 federal elections, where it struggled with the election threshold of 5%. This threshold was only reached in West-Flanders, the constituency of Geert Bourgeois. With only one federal representative and no senator, the party lost government funding and faced irrelevance.
[edit] Cartel with CD&V
The N-VA entered into an election cartel with Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V). They joined forces in the regional elections in 2004 and won. Both parties joined the new Flemish government, led by CD&V leader Yves Leterme. Bart De Wever became new party leader, as Geert Bourgeois became minister.
The cartel was briefly broken when the former right-wing liberal Jean-Marie Dedecker left the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD) and entered the N-VA on behalf of the party executive. However, the party congress did not put Dedecker on the election list, instead preferring to continue the cartel with CD&V, who had strongly opposed placing him on a joint cartel list. Dedecker saw this as a vote of no confidence, and left the party after only 10 days, to form his own party, List Dedecker. Deputy leader Brepoels, who supported Dedecker, stepped down from the party board afterwards.
In the Belgian general election of 2007 CD&V/N-VA won a major victory again, with a campaign focusing on good governance, state reform and the division of the electoral district Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. They N-VA claimed five seats in the Chamber of Representatives and two seats in the Senate. Yves Leterme initiated coalition talks, which repeatedly stalled (see 2007–2008 Belgian government formation). On the 20 March 2008, a new federal government was finally assembled. N-VA did not join this government, but gave its support pending state reform.
The cartel ended definitely on 24 September 2008, due to lack of progression in state reform matters and a different strategy on future negotiations. N-VA left the Flemish Government and gave up its support of Leterme at the federal level.
[edit] Mainstream party
In the regional elections of June 2009, N-VA won an unexpected 13% of the votes, making them the winner of the elections, along with their old cartel partner. N-VA subsequently joined the government, led by Kris Peeters. Bart De Wever chose to remain party leader and appointed Geert Bourgeois and Philippe Muyters as ministers in the Flemish Government and Jan Peumans as speaker of the Flemish parliament.
[edit] Foundation and ideology
The New Flemish Alliance is a relatively young political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. Being one of the successors of the Volksunie (1954–2001), it is, however, based on an established political tradition. The N-VA works towards the same goal as its predecessor: to redefine Flemish nationalism in a contemporary, pro-European setting. Party leader De Wever calls himself a conservative and a nationalist.[8]
The N-VA argues for a Flemish republic, a member state of a democratic European confederation. The party believes that the challenges of the 21st century can best be answered by strong communities and by well-developed international co-operation, a position which is reflected in their tagline: "Necessary in Flanders, useful in Europe." (Dutch: Nodig in Vlaanderen, nuttig in Europa.)
A label for the political orientation of the N-VA is difficult to find as the party combines both left and right-ring policies. According to its 2009 election programme for Flanders, the N-VA is economically liberal and ecologically green. It supports public transport, open source software, renewable energy and taxing cars by the actual number of kilometers driven. It wants more aid for developing countries but also more compulsory measures to require that immigrants learn Dutch.[citation needed]
On the European level the N-VA is part of the European Free Alliance that consists mainly of regionalist or minority parties. The EFA forms a parliamentary group together with the European Green Party. The N-VA has been invited to move to the European Conservatives and Reformists group, after Bart De Wever was invited to talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron in March 2011.[9]
[edit] Electorate
At the federal elections in 2003 N-VA received 3.1% of the votes, but achieved only one seat in the federal parliament. In February 2004 they formed an electoral alliance (cartel) with Christian Democratic and Flemish. The cartel won the elections for the Flemish parliament. The N-VA received a total of 6 seats. However, on 21 September 2008 the N-VA lost its faith in the federal government and the following day minister Geert Bourgeois resigned. In a press conference he confirmed the end of the cartel CD&V/N-VA.
[edit] 2007 federal elections
In the 10 June 2007 general elections, the cartel won 30 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 9 out of 40 seats in the Senate.
[edit] 2009 regional elections
In the regional elections of June 11, 2009, N-VA (now on its own after the break of the cartel with CD&V) won an unexpected 13% of the votes, making them the winner of the elections along with their old cartel partner.
[edit] 2010 federal elections
[edit] Election results
[edit] Chamber of Representatives
| Election year | # of total votes | % of vote | # of seats won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 201,399 | 3.1% | 1 | |
| 2007 | 1,234,950 | 18.51% | 30 | In cartel with CD&V |
| 2010 | 1,135,617 | 17.40% |
27 |
[edit] Senate
| Election year | # of total votes | % of vote | # of seats won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 200,273 | 3.1% | 0 | |
| 2007 | 1,287,389 | 19.42% | 9 | In cartel with CD&V |
| 2010 | 1,268,894 | 19.61% | 9 |
[edit] European Parliament
| Election year | # of total votes | % of vote | # of seats won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 402,545 | 6.13% | 1 |
[edit] Flemish Parliament
| Election year | # of total votes | % of vote | # of seats won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,060,580 | 26.1% | 35 | In cartel with CD&V |
| 2009 | 537,040 | 13.06% | 16 |
[edit] Representation
[edit] European Politics
| European Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Name | Notes |
| Frieda Brepoels | Member of the European Free Alliance party and the Greens-EFA parliamentary group |
[edit] Federal Politics
| Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Name | Notes |
| Directly elected | Patrick De Groote | replaces Bart De Wever, remaining MFP |
| Directly elected | Frank Boogaerts | replaces Helga Stevens, remaining MFP |
| Directly elected | Louis Ide | |
| Directly elected | Lieve Maes | |
| Directly elected | Danny Pieters | President of the Belgian Senate |
| Directly elected | Luc Sevenhans | replaces Philippe Muyters, joined Flemish Government |
| Directly elected | Piet De Bruyn | replaces Kim Geybels, resigned |
| Directly elected | Elke Sleurs | |
| Directly elected | Inge Faes | |
| Community Senator | Bart De Wever | |
| Community Senator | Helga Stevens | |
| Community Senator | Liesbeth Homans | Floor leader |
| Co-opted senator | Huub Broers | |
| Co-opted senator | Karl Vanlouwe | |
[edit] Regional politics
| Flemish Government Peeters II | |
|---|---|
| Name | Function |
| Geert Bourgeois | Vice-Minister-President of the Flemish Government Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Local and Provincial Government, Civic Integration, Tourism and the Vlaamse Rand |
| Philippe Muyters | Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget, Work, Town and Country Planning and Sport |
| Flemish Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Constituency | Name | Notes |
 West Flanders |
Wilfried Vandaele | replaces Geert Bourgeois, joined Flemish Government, later became MP |
| West Flanders |
Danielle Godderis-T'Jonck | |
 East Flanders |
Helga Stevens | also Flemish Community Senator |
| East Flanders |
Lieven Dehandschutter | |
| East Flanders |
Matthias Diependaele | |
| East Flanders |
Karim Van Overmeire | elected as a member of Vlaams Belang, joined N-VA at 31 august 2011 |
 Antwerp |
Bart De Wever | also Flemish Community Senator |
| Antwerp |
Liesbeth Homans | also Flemish Community Senator |
| Antwerp |
Marc Hendrickx | |
| Antwerp |
Kris Van Dijck | Floor leader |
| Antwerp |
Goedele Vermeiren | replaces Sophie De Wit, became MP |
| Antwerp |
Vera Celis | |
 Flemish Brabant |
Mark Demesmaeker | |
| Flemish Brabant |
Tine Eerlingen | |
| Flemish Brabant |
Willy Segers | |
 Limburg |
Jan Peumans | President of the Flemish Parliament |
| Limburg |
Lies Jans | |
[edit] References
- ^ n-va.be, english information page
- ^ a b Manifesto of the New Flemish Alliance point 13: "Inclusion for newcommers" (in Dutch)
- ^ Manifesto of the New Flemish Alliance point 6: "Pacifisme" (in Dutch)
- ^ Manifesto of the New Flemish Alliance point 3: "Flanders member state of the European Union" (in Dutch)
- ^ a b flanders.be, cabinet information page
- ^ N-VA wins General Election, deredactie.be. Retrieved on 2010-06-14.
- ^ Internationale persconferentie, NV-A.be. Retrieved on 2010-06-14.
- ^ Trouw: "Laat Belgie maar rustig verdampen", last seen April 8th, 2010.
- ^ "When Dave met Bart". European Voice. 24 March 2011. http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/when-dave-met-bart/70645.aspx. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
[edit] External links
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