The Far Right is Growing – Wants to Divide Belgium in Two

Six years will Belgium celebrate 200 years of independence - if the country still exists. After this weekend's election, the next prime minister could be a Flemish separatist.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 08 2024

The Far Right is Growing – Wants to Divide Belgium in Two
Photo: Wiktor Nummelin/TT

Belgium will celebrate 200 years of independence in six years' time – if the country still exists.

After this weekend's election, the next prime minister could be a Flemish separatist.

The successes of anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders in the Netherlands are being repeated south of the border. In Belgium's parliamentary election on Sunday, the strongly anti-immigration far-right party Vlaams Belang is expected to become the largest – not just in the Flemish region but throughout the country.

The French-speaking Wallonia is not at all interested in a split. Instead, the left-wing party PTB is expected to make significant gains there.

The growing extremism will make it difficult to form a government. Belgium is used to having very broad coalitions to get a majority. This time, Flanders' second-largest separatist party, NVA, will likely have to play a major role in forming a government.

Perhaps NVA leader Bart De Wever could even become the new prime minister – especially since his party is now toning down its old demands for independence.

Belgium is linguistically and politically divided between the Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north and the French-speaking Wallonia in the south. Almost all political parties are regional rather than national, which means there is a liberal party in Flanders (VLD) and one in Wallonia (MR), and so on.

In the national parliament, there are 87 members from Flanders, 48 from Wallonia, and 15 from the multilingual capital region of Brussels. The current government is a seven-party coalition of liberals, social democrats, and environmental parties from both sides, as well as the Flemish Christian Democrats.

Sunday – parallel to the EU election – Belgium is holding elections for both the national parliament and regional councils in Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Zelensky Highlights Russia's Silence on
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Highlights Russia's Silence on US Ceasefire Proposal

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal;
1 MIN READ

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal; Israel Submits Counter-Offer

Israel Expands Ground Offensive in
1 MIN READ

Israel Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Gaza

Frederiksen's Greenland Visit Signals Closer
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen's Greenland Visit Signals Closer Denmark-USA Ties

Vance's Greenland Speech Criticized for
2 MIN READ

Vance's Greenland Speech Criticized for Lacking Substance

Myanmar Earthquake Victims Face Dire
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Victims Face Dire Healthcare Shortage, UN Warns

Two Dead, 105 Arrested in
1 MIN READ

Two Dead, 105 Arrested in Nepal Protests Over Former Monarchy

WHO Faces Budget Cuts After
2 MIN READ

WHO Faces Budget Cuts After US Withdrawal Decision

US Aid Halt Sparks Toxic
5 MIN READ

US Aid Halt Sparks Toxic Risk in Vietnam, Cleanup Efforts Stalled

Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills
1 MIN READ

Drone Strike in Pakistan Kills Over Ten, Including Children

Protesters in Copenhagen Rally Against
1 MIN READ

Protesters in Copenhagen Rally Against US Interest in Greenland

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Several Injured in Serious Violent Incident in Trondheim, Norway

Massive Istanbul Protests Demand Release
1 MIN READ

Massive Istanbul Protests Demand Release of Mayor Imamoglu

Guinea Pardons Ex-Dictator Camara After
1 MIN READ

Guinea Pardons Ex-Dictator Camara After Arena Massacre Sentence

Over 100,000 Russian Soldiers Confirmed
1 MIN READ

Over 100,000 Russian Soldiers Confirmed Dead in Ukraine Conflict

Denmark Criticizes US VP Vance's
1 MIN READ

Denmark Criticizes US VP Vance's Remarks on Greenland Visit

US Expands Airstrikes in Yemen
2 MIN READ

US Expands Airstrikes in Yemen Targeting Houthi-Controlled Areas

FDA Vaccine Chief Resigns, Cites
1 MIN READ

FDA Vaccine Chief Resigns, Cites Kennedy's Misinformation

16 Maoist Rebels Killed in
1 MIN READ

16 Maoist Rebels Killed in Ongoing Clashes with Indian Forces

Greenland's Jørgen Boassen Faces Backlash,
2 MIN READ

Greenland's Jørgen Boassen Faces Backlash, Supports US Ties

Football Fan Discovers Sensitive UK
2 MIN READ

Football Fan Discovers Sensitive UK Military Documents in Trash Bag

Myanmar Earthquake Claims Over 1,600
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Claims Over 1,600 Lives, Rescue Efforts Intensify

Columbia University President Steps Down
1 MIN READ

Columbia University President Steps Down After Funding Agreement

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow
1 MIN READ

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow Flags in Schools and Government Buildings

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Russian Drone Attack on Dnipro Leaves Four Dead, Many Injured

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US
1 MIN READ

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US of Airstrikes on Sanaa

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in
1 MIN READ

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in Christian Quarters After Protests

Zelensky Open to Peace Talks
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Open to Peace Talks with Russia, Excluding Putin

South Sudan's Vice President Riek
1 MIN READ

South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar Placed Under House Arrest

Trump and Canada's Carney Report
2 MIN READ

Trump and Canada's Carney Report Productive Talks on US-Canada Relations

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains from Russian Conflict

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of Denmark Unfair During Greenland Visit

Greenland's New Government Aims for
2 MIN READ

Greenland's New Government Aims for Stability and Unity

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on
1 MIN READ

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on Camera in 30 Seconds

Putin and Erdogan Talk Black
1 MIN READ

Putin and Erdogan Talk Black Sea Deal and Sanctions Relief

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with
2 MIN READ

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with US Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Netanyahu Warns of Renewed Strikes
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu Warns of Renewed Strikes on Beirut After Ceasefire Breach

Myanmar Earthquake Adds to Struggles
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Adds to Struggles in War-Torn Nation

Seismologist Warns of Severe Impact
1 MIN READ

Seismologist Warns of Severe Impact After Myanmar Earthquake

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy
1 MIN READ

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy Sites as Ceasefire Talks Falter