New-Flemish Alliance

Template:Politics of Belgium The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie ("New-Flemish Alliance") is a Belgian political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a separatist movement that strives for secession of Flanders from Belgium.

In 2001, the Volksunie ("Peoples Union") split into two parties: Spirit and Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie. This was the result of internal struggles between the right-wing base and the left-wing leadership. The chairman of the Volksunie, Geert Bourgeois, won a referendum among the members with 47% of the votes. The leftist group of Bert Anciaux got 22% of the votes. 31% voted against a split. Since no group got over 50%, the name Volksunie couldn't be in use any longer.

The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New-Flemish Alliance - N-VA) is a young political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. Being the continuator of the Volksunie (1954-2001), it is, however, based on an established political tradition. The N-VA works towards the same goal as its predecessor: to shape a humane Flemish-nationalism in a contemporary way.

In the political sphere, the N-VA pleads for a Flemish republic, member state of a democratic European confederation. The party believes that the challenges of the 21st century can best be answered from strong communities on the one hand and from a well developed international cooperation on the other hand. The Belgian governmental level will evaporate between these two poles, already it is at odds with an efficient administration.

Otherwise the N-VA defends the right of self-determination of peoples as a fundamental principle of international law, described in article 1 of the charter of the United Nations. According to international law, Flanders meets all requirements to become a state : a permanent population; a territory with distinct external borders; a directly elected parliament with a thereby appointed government; an international recognition as (member)state through treaties already concluded with other contries. A smaller state with a strong communal sense can safely confront the world. It is no coincidence that smaller, well run countries perform best concerning prosperity and welfare. The Flemish people should not underestimate themselves: with 6 million we approximately end up in 95th place out of circa 193 countries in the world; with its gross national product Flanders is economically in 24th position.

The political views of the N-VA are not a goal by itself, but an instrument to take care of prosperity, welfare and cultural development of all inhabitants of Flanders in the best possible way. The Flemish state is the framework for a strong corporate sense, for a community that attaches great importance to values. Society needs intangible values as much as material ones, this runs like a continuous thread through the social vision of the N-VA.

The N-VA has members from across the political spectrum, but as a whole it is considered center-right. It is seen as a democratic alternative to the extreme-right Vlaams Blok. Its motives for secession are mainly pragmatic ones.

At the federal elections in 2003 N-VA got 5% of the votes, but only one seat in the federal parliament. In February 2004 they formed an alliance (cartel) with the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams ("Christian Democratic and Flemish"). The cartel won the elections for the Flemish parliament. The N-VA won a total of 6 seats.

External link

• Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie website (http://www.n-va.be) (in Dutch)

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