Elections 24: what do the Flemish socialists of Vooruit stand for?

Vooruit is a socialist party that initially focused exclusively on working people. But what does the party stand for today? Let’s find out.

Vooruit is the political party representing Flemish social democrats and socialists. Equal opportunities and solidarity, the basic tenets of socialism, are central to this party.

The party believes that the people who earn most money or possess the greatest wealth should also pay the highest taxes. In this way, the government can help those who are less fortunate.

The socialists focus on "the common man" and try to protect people’s purchasing power by taking measures affecting the very wealthy. The party is opposed to cuts in social security.

Vooruit also advocates investment, especially in education and health care.

VRT News asked Vooruit what its three main positions are ahead of the June 9 elections:

Greater purchasing power for people in work.

Affordable and quality health care for all.

Investing in the first years of young people's lives, providing affordable child care and teachers in the classroom.

Vooruit can look back on a long history

The Belgian Workers's Party organised strikes in favour of universal suffrage.

The Flemish socialists are descended from the Belgian Workers' Party, which was founded in 1885. The party laid its focus entirely on working people and fought for social reforms as well as better working conditions and free education.

No reference to socialism occurred in the party's name at this time, as the term had radical connotations. It was feared workers might be put off by it.

The party achieved numerous successes: the expansion of social security, additional rights for workers and the introduction of universal suffrage for men. Until then, only the wealthiest were allowed to vote.

During World War II, references to socialism were made for the first time and the party was renamed the Belgian Socialist Party. Some 30 years later, the party split into a Flemish and a Francophone wing: the French-speakers continued under the name Parti Socialiste (PS); under leader Karel Van Miert the Flemish socialists called their party the Socialistische Partij (The Socialist Party), the SP.

Karel Van Miert, pictured centre, led the SP for many years.

In 1995, the Agusta affair discredited the SP. The Italian helicopter manufacturer paid 50 million francs (about 1.25 million euros) to the SP to facilitate a Belgian government defence contract for the purchase of Agusta combat helicopters for the Belgian air force. Frank Vandenbroucke resigned as Belgian foreign minister; Willy Claes handed in his resignation as NATO secretary general.

In the early 2000s, led by the four so-called "Teletubbies" pictured below, Patrick Janssens, Frank Vandenbroucke, Steve Stevaert and Johan Vande Lanotte, the party was revamped. The SP became the SP.A, which stands for Socialist Party Differently. The renewal led to a resounding election victory in 2004.

15 years later, little remained of this furore. After a poor election result, Conner Rousseau (pictured below) was elected at the party’s helm in 2019. He launched a new renewal effort, turning the party into a "movement" under the name Vooruit. It was a name change that was not met with much enthusiasm by the Ghent arts centre of the same name.

Rousseau increased Vooruit’s standing in the polls, but that came to an abrupt end last November. After it became clear that Rousseau had made a racist and sexist rant during a late night out in a Sint-Niklaas pub, he resigned.

Melissa Depraetere took over at the head of Vooruit and will lead Vooruit in the elections. The party’s support fell in the polls putting pressure on Rousseau to make a comeback, which he has now announced. He will feature on Vooruit’s list of candidates for the Flemish Parliament in East Flanders.

54-year-old Bruno Tobback, a member of the outgoing Flemish parliament and former Belgian minister heads Vooruit’s list of candidates for the European elections.