Vlaams Belang

Vlaams Belang (English: Flemish Interest) is a right-wing Belgian political party. It supports Flemish independence, restricted immigration, and free market economics. Opponents see it as far-right (see an article by Eric Defoort for one view on this subject).

Related Topics:
English - Right-wing - Belgian - Political party - Flemish independence - Immigration - Free market - Far-right

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Vlaams Belang was formed in 2004 by members of the now defunct Vlaams Blok (English: Flemish Block), which was condemned by a court for permanent incitation to discrimination and racism in November 2004.http://jackosheas.com/news/newsstory.cfm?story_no=1124 Members of the Vlaams Belang party and other conservatives, such as the law professor Matthias Storme, as well as some non-conservative flemish people, see it as a political trial inspired by the Belgian establishment, which would not have been possible were it not for amendments to laws carried out in the preceding years.

Related Topics:
2004 - Vlaams Blok - Discrimination - Racism

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Changes to the party platform have been made to allow it to comply with the law and the motto of Vlaams Blok, Eigen volk eerst ("Our own people first"), has been dropped.

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Vlaams Belang, and the former Vlaams Blok is a very divisive issue in Belgium, particularly in Flanders. One response to Vlaams Belang has been attempts to cut state funding for the party. However, this is viewed by some as being counter-productive (see an article by Bart Brinckman for one view on this subject).

Related Topics:
Belgium - Flanders

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Some people, who support Vlaams Belang, fear the loss of Brussels if Belgium were to split and, for instance, the mainly French-speaking Wallonia were to enter into a union with France.

Related Topics:
Brussels - French - Wallonia - Union - France

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