Belgian Politics & Elections: Federal, regional & EP elections on June 9, 2024

[Zinneke]

Even less a chance they make it if N-VA run in all 5 Walloon Provinces.

[PSOL]

I don't mind them splitting the vote of the right wing in Wallonia tbh.

You should, as increased turnout means that PTB-PVDA wins less seats.

[Zinneke]

I don't mind them splitting the vote of the right wing in Wallonia tbh.

You should, as increased turnout means that PTB-PVDA wins less seats.

Turnout isn't as big a factor in Belgian elections

[PSOL]

I don't mind them splitting the vote of the right wing in Wallonia tbh.

You should, as increased turnout means that PTB-PVDA wins less seats.

Turnout isn't as big a factor in Belgian elections

Any factor is big enough to get noticed.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I don't mind them splitting the vote of the right wing in Wallonia tbh.

You should, as increased turnout means that PTB-PVDA wins less seats.

Turnout isn't as big a factor in Belgian elections

Any factor is big enough to get noticed.

There is compulsory voting

And a vote to a party that isn't going to get above threshold isn't going to hurt PVDA-PTB. The people that will vote N-VA in Wallonia would usually vote MR or for any of the other parties like la droite, liste destexhe, chez nous or vlaams belang (don't know which ones will actually appear on the list). They're splitting the vote and ensuring the minor right-wing parties are even less likely to get over electoral threshold.

[Zinneke]

Another far right European "patriot" caught helping a Chinese spy get a visa. This time the guilty party is Filip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang, most known for calling for a "White Europe" back in the day. But helping illegals come to Belgium, and supporting a country still nominally communist.

[MaxQue]

Another far right European "patriot" caught helping a Chinese spy get a visa. This time the guilty party is Filip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang, most known for calling for a "White Europe" back in the day. But helping illegals come to Belgium, and supporting a country still nominally communist.

And, yet, their opposition continues to be weak, instead of just calling them Chinees Belang.

[Logical]

I thought PVDA were supposed to be the Maoists.

[Zinneke]

Another far right European "patriot" caught helping a Chinese spy get a visa. This time the guilty party is Filip Dewinter of Vlaams Belang, most known for calling for a "White Europe" back in the day. But helping illegals come to Belgium, and supporting a country still nominally communist.

And, yet, their opposition continues to be weak, instead of just calling them Chinees Belang.

They are way ahead of you. But then there is no opposition other than VB and PTB/PVDA

[Flyersfan232]

I thought PVDA were supposed to be the Maoists.

more of their voters are monarchists then republicans.

[Zinneke]

https://twitter.com/DGodefridi/status/1776150694124261533

The chief N-VA francophone candidate/troll on twitter is now calling out Vooruit because their posters resemble Stalinism and National Socialism all at once. Have to say along with the name change, logo change and the last party president's choice views on Romani,  he may have a point!

(But still Melissa )

[Zinneke]

https://twitter.com/lesoir/status/1778635667599167816

In which the most indebted of city-regions in Europe finds a way to claim 70k in expenses for their employees for going to golf course

[Zinneke]

As we approach to the elections the majorities across the board are slowly, inevitably crumbling. I already spoke earlier in the thread about how the Federal Vivaldi coalition was basically at a standstill with major reforms not being able to pass (the tax shift reducing charges on income in favour of increased VAT was blocked by the MR, who all parties in the Vivaldi, including Open VLD and De Croo, recognise as the ball and chain).

Now there is an effective falling of the Walloon government and the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles government on the cards due to the reform of higher education (Décret Paysage) on the horizon and agreed in the negotiations for the formation of the Fédération (that deals with education).

The reform was pushed by MR and was wide ranging but it is the stricter requirements to pass the first year courses that is the key element of contention from the Francophone Students Union (the FEF, notoriously I should say, seen as a platform to an eventual promotion into PS and ECOLO cabinets, but still quite plural). They argue that thousands of students could potentially be impacted by the fact that they will be forced to cease their studies if they even failed one course from their first year program but continued to pass all of the others through the rest of the studies. They also believe that students still impacted by Covid lockdown should not be the generation to bear the brunt.

MR and university administrators in favour of the measure argue that too many students often treat higher education as simply a way to maintain their student status until their late 20s to be more employable : in Belgium the minimum wage is so high that for a young worker a student status allows them to be employed without the employer paying so much tax on it. MR also are heavily targeting the angry boomer vote that believes that standards should be stricter for everyone except themselves. University administrators (some but not all) are frustrated at potential cuts when they believe many students are simply costing more than they are producing by being enrolled.  I personally have witnessed first hand people in my circle of friends registering for courses just to be able to enter the labour market, without attending a single course, but then this is a wider issue in Wallonia-Brussels - too high cost of labour,  bad transition from studies to work in general, denigration of technical schools despite massive shortages in technical jobs.

Anyway, the pressure from the FEF meant ECOLO and PS decided to bring back the Minister’s legislation to the fore yesterday and amend it, passing it in subcommittee with help of the PTB. MR and Les Engagés, in perhaps a hint at a future alliance, both wanted to maintain the text as it is. A furious Pierre-Yves Jeholet (the MR Minister-President of the Federation) has come out this morning essentially announcing that the government was now a “current affairs” one, where alternative majorities are now possible. This also opens the door to the potential Red-Red-Green in Wallonia, which the N-VA is practically begging for by running spoiler candidates there just so they can justify the Brown-Yellow-(Orange/Blue) government in Flanders.

In other news, Emir Kir, the mayor of Brussels commune Saint-Josse-Ten-Nood, shut down an international “National Conservatives” conference yesterday. This caused a mini-commotion at federal level as Prime Minister De Croo insisted that the right to assembly was constitutional. Kir is an obvious hypocrite given he was kicked out of the PS for having far right Turkish mayors visit his commune as if they were respected dignitaries, but he came out this morning saying it was a matter of public order. The speakers included Farage, Suella Braverman, but also people like Filip Dewinter who are more traditional neo-fascists (unless its about receiving money from China for fake visas).

Overall the campaign is noted for its inability to set clear themes. Last time two real events marked both sides of the linguistic communities : in Flanders it was the brutal murder committed by a released felon that focused on the lax justice system and helped VB, and in Wallonia and Brussels the climate protests were top of the agenda. In this campaign, there have yet to be real events like this and instead it revolves around very particular, technical issues like the “Décret Paysage” above or the GoodMove in Brussels, that are then simplified to get the social media hits. All the polls show though that what people care about the most is buying power. Analysts note that the Vivaldi parties are probably doing this campaign strategy on purpose because they know they have very little idea how to fix the buying power problem and that everybody black balls some of the obvious “fixes” (MR blackballs the tax shift, PS blackballs spending cuts etc). This leaves an absolute boulevard for the extreme parties to talk about cost of living issues, and is another explainer as to why they are so high in the polls. Debates in general seem to have very little effect here compared to the Netherlands.

[Estrella]

the tax shift reducing charges on income in favour of increased VAT was blocked by the MR, who all parties in the Vivaldi, including Open VLD and De Croo, recognise as the ball and chain

Why on Earth would MR be opposed to that? Are many of their members the sort of small businessmen who get their €€€ from Frenchies and Germans shopping for cheaper cigarettes/alcohol/​petrol/​whatever?

[Zinneke]

the tax shift reducing charges on income in favour of increased VAT was blocked by the MR, who all parties in the Vivaldi, including Open VLD and De Croo, recognise as the ball and chain

Why on Earth would MR be opposed to that? Are many of their members the sort of small businessmen who get their €€€ from Frenchies and Germans shopping for cheaper cigarettes/alcohol/​petrol/​whatever?

The tax shift basically isn't a direct tax cut. It's idea is to make up the losses of tax revenue with an increase on taxes on things like sugar, football tickets and gambling. About 2 weeks ago Humo, a Flemish investigative paper, explored the close relationship that GLB had with the gambling companies, including the fact that Ladbrokes sponsored his rally racing and the football club he currently runs alongside his 10 other mandates(that he also hilariously, in true GLB narcissistic fashion, changed the logo of his football club to look more like himself). When Francophone media picked it up, GLB called them to intimidate the journalists and remove the articles. The gambling industry's lobby is also headed by Damien Thery, an ex-MR bruiser. Safe to say the links between MR and certain industries that were "targeted" are very close. VLD are much more independent-minded and ideological.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://twitter.com/LensVeritatis/status/1781329115712524670

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https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/04/19/cordon-sanitaire-mediatique-politiek-vlaams-belang-pvda/

in dutch, translated

In French-speaking Belgium you will never see or hear a direct interview with a radical right-wing politician on TV or radio. This agreement has existed for a long time between the various broadcasters and is strictly applied. The agreement does not apply to newspapers, but they also hardly publish interviews with the radical right.

According to De Meeûs, this is an important explanation why the radical right is not gaining a foothold in Wallonia. He said this in De Afspraak on Friday. "If there is a cordon in both politics and the media, then they are not alive. Then they do not actually exist."

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https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/04/17/franse-gemeenschapsregering-mr-ps-ecolo-crisis/

in dutch, translated

"The PVDA will emerge as the big winner," Gerlache thinks. "A variable majority is already very exceptional, but the fact that it is happening with the PVDA is a first in our country."

The one-off collaboration gives the PVDA extra ammunition in the coming campaign: "PS always tells voters that a vote for the communists is a lost vote. Last night it turned out to be just the opposite. Thanks to the support of the PVDA, PS has been able to express its will push through.”

Basically PS used PVDA-PTB to push reforms in the regional government (which is rarely done in Belgian politics since the government is PS + MR)

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Lots of talk also in Flanders about the return of Conner Rousseau.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/04/11/conner-rousseau-trapt-campagne-af-als-het-niet-lukt-dan-is-he/

Conner Rousseau kicks off campaign: "If I don't get elected, it's over"

If Conner Rousseau is not elected to the Flemish Parliament in the elections of June 9, he will quit politics. He said this at the start of his election campaign, in Sint-Niklaas. Yesterday, Vooruit announced that the former chairman is making his political comeback as a list pusher on the Flemish list. Last year he resigned after racist statements about the Roma.

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https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/03/21/jongeren-van-16-of-17-jaar-zullen-dan-toch-verplicht-moeten-gaan/

Also a somewhat controversial supreme court decision that removed de facto the option for youngsters to optionally vote in European elections as was demanded / requested / proposed by Europe. Because of our compulsory voting system, to avoid youngsters being required from turning out, a system of registering 16 and 17 year old people who wanted to vote was proposed or put in place but the Supreme Court cancelled these plans after a complaint of voter discrimination filed by an adult. Because of that, voting for European elections will be compulsory for 16 and 17 year olds as well, with many youngsters unprepared or surprised, less than three months before the election takes place.

Young people aged 16 or 17 will then have to vote in European elections

Young people aged 16 or 17 will then have to vote in the elections for the European Parliament. According to the Constitutional Court, they must be treated in the same way as all other - adult - voters. It is not yet clear whether there will also be sanctions for those who do not vote.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/04/20/forum-voor-democratie-thierry-baudet-komt-niet-op-verkiezingen/

Thierry Baudet's Forum for Democracy will not participate in Flemish elections after all

Forum for Democracy will then not participate in the elections. Thierry Baudet's Dutch party hoped to participate in the European elections in Flanders, but does not meet the conditions. Baudet and co. complained about this to Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V).

Another fail for the megalomaniac Thierry Baudet.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

What the Flemish parties stand for

Flemish Interest:

1. Stopping migration: refugees must be received in their own region, the European external borders must be more closely guarded and an asylum and migration stop to our country.

2. Making work rewarding again: a higher minimum wage, a drastic increase in net wages (through lower taxes) and a higher minimum pension.

3. Making justice fair again: all sentences must be fully carried out. In addition, overcrowding in prisons must be tackled by allowing prisoners who do not have Belgian nationality to serve their prison sentences in their country of origin.

Open VLD:

1. Reward everyone who works, wants to work and has worked: those who work must earn at least 500 euros per month more than those who do not work, flexi-jobs must be expanded to all economic sectors and employees must be able to voluntarily work unlimited overtime without being paid extra. charge.
2. Protect and strengthen our freedoms: enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution, the right to choose euthanasia in the event of dementia must become possible, the right to surrogacy must be regulated by law.
3. Working together for a stronger country, within a strong Europe: after the elections, quickly a full-fledged government that tackles socio-economic problems instead of community disputes.

PVDA

1. Getting the money where it is: a millionaire tax of 2 percent for the richest 1 percent. In addition, the tax loopholes for multinationals must be closed.
2. Make life truly affordable: higher wages and 0 percent VAT on the shopping cart.
3. Stop corruption: abolish severance pay for MPs, fewer ministers and more unity.

Vooruit

1. More purchasing power for those who work.
2. Affordable and quality healthcare for everyone.
3. Investing in the first years of young people's lives with affordable childcare and a teacher in the classroom.

N-VA

1. Put the budgets in order by implementing necessary reforms and savings. According to the N-VA, this is policy priority number one.

2. The difference between working and not working must be at least 500 euros net. In this way, N-VA wants to get more people into work to keep our social system afloat. The party talks about, among other things, lower labor costs, but also about a benefit ceiling and a benefit standard. The party also wants to make our social system only accessible after 5 years of legal residence.

3. The N-VA is pushing for confederalism. The party wants the regions to be able to pursue their own policies with their own money, and to decide in consultation what they still want to do together. The N-VA considers confederalism to be necessary to provide Flanders with a centre-right policy.

Green

1. A fair climate policy that includes everyone. Groen wants to phase out fossil subsidies for major polluters and invest in affordable green energy from us, energy-efficient living for everyone and more nature in your neighborhood. Young people, the elderly and people who have difficulty making ends meet should be able to use public transport for just 1 euro per month.

2. Tax all income – whether it comes from wages or assets – equally. With a millionaires' tax, Groen wants to ensure that the richest 1 percent also contribute fairly.

3. Groen wants equal opportunities for everyone: in education, on the labor market, on the housing market and in society at large. The party also fights against racism and discrimination.

CD&V

1. CD&V wants to implement a major tax reform that fundamentally reduces taxes on the wages of working people. The party wants all workers to have more net leftovers at the end of the month: not just the lowest wages or the highest wages, but especially the average middle-class families and singles.
2. A better work-life balance for working families through the introduction of a family credit, a new model of parental leave, with more weeks of leave, which can also be taken up to the age of 18 (instead of the current 12 years), higher replacement incomes for less financial loss, and an extension to grandparents and superparents, so that families can be helped by relatives.
3. CD&V wants to ensure safe neighborhoods, safe stations and a safe nightlife everywhere in Flanders. This is done by investing heavily in both more officers and more nearby police to tackle small and large crime.

Other parties

BoerBurgerBelangen (BBB) - This party is the Flemish counterpart of the Dutch BoerBurgerBeweging (also BBB). The party says it wants to stand up for "farmers and citizens", the future of agriculture and "a strong structure for a sustainable society".

Blank - This party focuses on voters who do not feel represented by any other party. Their only program item? Change the electoral law so that choosing an "unallocated seat" becomes possible in the future. A blank vote could therefore lead to an empty seat in parliament. The party promises to abstain from all other bills.

Viva Palestina - This list by politician Dyab Abou Jahjah - he does not want to call it a party - is currently only available in the Brussels Region. The "recognition of the genocide in Gaza" is one of the spearheads of the list, which also aims to combat all forms of discrimination, corruption and inequality.

Volt - This party calls itself a pan-European party and focuses on European cooperation. Because today's challenges - think of migration and the climate - can only be solved internationally, or so it sounds.

For you - This party, founded by Flemish Member of Parliament Els Ampe (ex-Open VLD), wants to offer an alternative to the traditional parties. She wants to stand up for the citizen and "not for party interests" and strives for a "modest" government. Other (smaller) parties join the list, such as Vista and Vrijheid.

L'Unie - This party, founded by young people, aims to unite Belgium and "bridge the linguistic and social divides of this country". She wants to stand up for the federal and European elections throughout the country.

Party for the Trees - This party, which only represents the Flemish Parliament in the Flemish Brabant constituency, focuses on the rights and well-being of trees.

Belgische Unie - Union belge - Belgian Union - Multilingual party that strives to abolish the current federal model and restore the Belgian unitary state. The party was founded in 2002 and has always participated in elections since then, but has never come close to the electoral threshold.

-> I'm not going to do the walloon parties, zinneke can do that probably, but they'll basically be similar to their flemish counterpart, albeit sometimes to the left of the flemish counterpart.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/kies24/stemtest/#/stellingen

https://www.vrt.be/nwsnwsnws/nl/stemtest/

Two (slightly) different voter tests, the upper the normal one and the lower one one adjusted for youngsters (and i don't think the latter one can be google translated), but for someone who is interested, here are some 'new' tests.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/04/15/de-stemtest-antwoorden-partijen/

Here also an additional article on some of the more unusual viewpoints of some of the parties on some of the questions in the voters tests.