What do the Flemish political parties stand for?
On 9 June European, federal and regional elections will be held in Belgium. But what do the political parties that will be putting up candidates actually stand for? VRT News asked each of the parties to outline three policies that are most important to them. The order of the parties in the following article is based on the list numbers that they have been attributed for the forthcoming elections. The list numbers were attributed randomly.
Vlaams Belang (far right)
1. Stop migration: refugees should be looked after in their own region. Europe’s external borders should be guarded more tightly and there should be a freeze on asylum and migration into Belgium.
2. Work should pay: the minimum wage should be increased and there should be a drastic (by lowering income tax) increase in take home pay for those in work. The minimum pension should also be increased.
3. Put justice to rights: all sentences should be served in full. In addition to this the issue of overcrowding in our prisions should be addressed by sending prisioners that aren’t Belgian nationals to serve their sentences in their country of origin.
Open VLD (liberal)
1. Everyone that is in work should be rewarded. Those in work should take home at least 500 euro/month more than people that are not working. The Flexi-Job system should be expanded to all sectors of the economy and there should be no restrictions on voluntary overtime. Those working overtime should not be obliged to pay a higher rate of income tax.
2. Protect and strengthen our freedom: put the right to abortion into the constition, give people living with dementia the right to euthanasia. The right to surrogate motherhood should be enshrined in law.
3. Cooperate to build a stronger country within a strong Europe: after the elections Open VLD was a new government to be formed as quickly as possible to address the socio-economic issues the country faces. The party doesn’t want to “waste time” on inter-community discussions between Flemings and Francophones.
PVDA (far-left)
1. Take the money where the money is: a millionaires’ tax that would tax the top 1% 2% more. In addition to this, fiscal loopholes that benefit multinationals should been closed.
2. Make life affordable: higher wages and 0% VAT on groceries.
3. Stop the money grabbing culture. Scrap MPs’ leaving payment, fewer minister and greater unity.
Vooruit (socialists)
1. Greater purchasing power for people in work.
2. Affordable quality healthcare for all.
3. Invest in the early year’s of a child’s life. Affordable childcare and enough teachers in the classroom.
N-VA (Flemish nationalists)
1. Balance the budget by implementing reforms and cuts. N-VA says that this is policy priority number one.
2. The difference in disposable income between those that are in work those that are and not working should be at least 500 euro net. By widening the financial gap between those in work and those that are out of work N-VA hopes to get more people into the workplace. The party says that this is necessary to keep our social system security afloat. The party is in favour of lower income tax and a benefits ceiling. The party would only give benefits to foreigners after they had resided legally in Belgium for at least 5 years.
3. The N-VA is in favour of “confederalism”. Under this system the regions would descide between themselves what they still want to do together at a Belgian level. The regions would raise their own taxes and be responsible for all areas of policy that they had not devolved to the federal tier. N-VA sees confederalism as necessary to ensure that Flanders is governed by the centre-right.
Groen (the greens)
1. A fair and inclusive climate policy. Groen wants to phase out fossil fuel subsidies for big polluters and invest in affordable green energy that is produced here in Belgium. Low-energy housing for all and more nature close to home are also priorities for the party. Young people, the elderly and those struggling to make ends meet should be able to use public transport for just 1 euro/month.
2. Tax all income - whether it is derived for work or from a person’s assets - equally. With a millionaires' tax Groen aims to ensure that the richest 1% in our society contribute their fair share.
3. Groen wants equal opportunities for all: in education, on the labour market, on the housing market and in society at large. The party sees the fight against racism and discrimination as a priority.
CD&V (the Christian democrats)
1. CD&V wants to implement a major tax reform that fundamentally reduces taxes on working people's wages. The party wants all working people to have more net income, not just those on low incomes or those on high salaries, but also middle-income families and single people.
2. A better work-life balance for working families. This would be achieved through the introduction of a system called “Family Credit”. This would increase the amount of parental leave that can be taken by those with children. The leave would also be able to be taken until a child has reached the age of 18 (this is currently 12), the payments made to those on parental leave would be increased and grandparents and “plus-parents” (those in a relationship and living with the child’s mother/father) would also be able to take parental leave though the “Family Credit” system.
3. CD&V wants to ensure safe neighbourhoods, safe railway stations and areas to go for a night out everywhere in Flanders. This by investing heavily in both more police officers and more community police to tackle both petty and serious crime.