New Flemish Alliance

New Flemish Alliance
New Flemish Alliance
Leader	Bart De Wever
Founded	2001
Headquarters	national secretariat ; Liefdadigheidsstraat 39 Brussel
Ideology	Nationalism, Conservatism, Liberalism
European affiliation	European People's Party
European Parliament group	EPP-ED
International affiliation	none
Colours	Orange/Black
Website
	www.n-va.be

The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie ("New-Flemish Alliance") is a Flemish political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a separatist movement that strives for peaceful secession of Flanders from Belgium. The party is also known for fighting for laws that force the francophones living in Flanders to learn Dutch.

Volksunie

In 2001, the Volksunie ("Peoples Union") split into two parties: Spirit and Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie. This was the result of internal struggles between the right-wing base and the left-wing leadership. The chairman of the Volksunie, Geert Bourgeois, won a referendum among the members with 47% of the votes. The leftist group of Bert Anciaux got 22% of the votes. 31% voted against a split. Since no group got over 50%, the name Volksunie couldn't be in use any longer.

Foundation and ideology

The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New-Flemish Alliance - N-VA) is a young political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. Being one of the continuators 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 shape a radical Flemish-nationalism in a contemporary way.

In the political sphere, the N-VA pleads for a Flemish republic, member state of a democratic European confederation. The party believes that the challenges of the 21st century can best be answered from strong communities on the one hand and from a well developed international cooperation on the other hand.

Membership

The N-VA has members from across the political spectrum, but as a whole it is considered center-right. It is seen as a democratic alternative to the far right Vlaams Belang. Its motives for secession are mainly pragmatic ones.

Electorate

At the federal elections in 2003 N-VA got 5% of the votes, but only one seat in the federal parliament. In February 2004 they formed an alliance (cartel) with the CD&V ("Christian Democratic and Flemish"). The cartel won the elections for the Flemish parliament. The N-VA received a total of 6 seats. The cartel will not be continued for the 2007 elections.

Representation

Flemish government

Geert Bourgeois, Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism

Members in the Flemish Parliament

External link

Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie website (in Dutch)