New-Flemish Alliance

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The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie ("New-Flemish Alliance") is a Flemish political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a separatist movement that strives for secession of Flanders from Belgium. The party is also known for fighting for laws that force the francophones living in Flanders to learn Dutch.

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 radical 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 N-VA has members from across the political spectrum, but as a whole it is considered to be a centre- rightist,moderate conservative party. It is seen as an alternative to the more extreme- rightist and more hard-line Vlaams Belang. Its motives for secession are mainly pragmatic ones.

Elections

At the federal elections in 2003 N-VA got 5% of the votes, but only one seat in the federal parliament (in opposition to the UF-Union des francophones-which holds 6 seats with barely 2.5%). 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] (in Dutch)

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