New Flemish Alliance Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie
Leader	Bart De Wever
Founder	Geert Bourgeois
Founded	2001
Preceded by	Volksunie (split in 2001)
Headquarters	Koningsstraat 47, bus 6 B-1000 Brussels Belgium
Ideology	Flemish nationalism, Liberal nationalism, Liberal conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
European affiliation	European Free Alliance
European Parliament group	Greens-EFA
Official colors	Yellow, black
Chamber of Representatives	27 / 150
Senate	14 / 71
Flemish Parliament	17 / 124
Brussels Parliament	1 / 89
European Parliament	1 / 22
Website
www.n-va.be
Politics of Belgium Political parties Elections

 Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (English: New Flemish Alliance, abbreviated as N-VA) is a Flemish right-wing political party, founded in the autumn of 2001.^[1] It is a conservative and liberal movement that promotes civic nationalism.^[2] It is part of the Flemish Movement, and strives for the peaceful^[3] and gradual secession of Flanders from Belgium.^[4]

The party is also known for its insistence on the exclusive use of Dutch, Flanders' sole official language, in dealings with government agencies, and for the promotion of the use of Dutch in Flanders as the language enabling integration.^[2] They currently participate in the Flemish Government, in coalition with the Christian democratic CD&V and socialist sp.a.^[5]

After initially struggling with the election threshold, the N-VA operated as part of an alliance with CD&V. They ran together in the 2004 regional elections and 2007 federal elections, winning both. The alliance ended in 2008 due to lack of progression in state reform negotiations, leaving the regional government and running separately in 2009 in the Flemish election, winning sixteen seats, and European election, winning one seat. It joined the regional government again and currently holds two out of nine minister seats in the cabinet.^[5]

As of the 2010 federal elections the party gained a substantial plurality in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium with 28% of the votes in Flanders and 17% of the national vote, becoming the largest party in both Flanders and Belgium altogether. This was the first time in which a non-traditional political party dominated the outcome of a Belgian election.^[6]

The main objective of the party is to work on great institutional reforms by gradually obtaining more powers for both Belgian regions separately. Furthermore, it emphasizes its non-revolutionary and pro-European character (as opposed to the far-right character of the Vlaams Belang) in order to legitimize increased Flemish autonomy.^[7]

History[link]

Fall of the People's Union[link]

The N-VA stems from People's Union (Dutch: Volksunie, abbreviated as VU), a Belgian political party and broad electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists. Towards the end of the 20th century, with a steadily declining electorate and the majority of the party's federalist agenda implemented, friction between several wings of the People's Union emerged. In the beginning of the 1990s, Bert Anciaux became party president and led the party in an ever more progressive direction, combining the social-liberal ideas of his new iD21-movement with the regionalist course of the People's Union. These experiments were opposed by the more traditional centre-right wing of the party base.

Tension rose towards the end of the decade, as Geert Bourgeois, foreman of the traditional and centre-right nationalist wing, was elected chairman by party members, above the incumbent and progressive Patrik Vankrunkelsven. Factions subsequently clashed multiple times, over the future course of the party and possible support to current state reform negotiations. On October, 13 2001 the party openly split into three factions: The progressive wing around Bert Anciaux, which would later become the Spirit party, the conservative nationalist wing around Geert Bourgeois and a centre group opposing the imminent split. A party referendum was held on the future of the party, where the right wing gained a substantial plurality of 47% and inherited the party infrastructure. Since no faction got over 50%, however, the name Volksunie could no longer be used.

Foundation and the election threshold[link]

In the autumn of 2001, the New-Flemish Alliance (Dutch: Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie or N-VA) was founded. Seven members of parliament for the People's Union joined the new party. The new party council created a party manifesto and a statement of principles. The first party congress was held in May 2002, voting on a party program and permanent party structures. Geert Bourgeois was elected chairman.

The party participated in elections for the first time in the 2003 federal elections, where it struggled with the election threshold of 5%. This threshold was only reached in West-Flanders, the constituency of Geert Bourgeois. With only one federal representative and no senator, the party lost government funding and faced irrelevance.

Cartel with CD&V[link]

Party leader since 2004: Bart De Wever

The N-VA entered into an election cartel with Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V). They joined forces in the regional elections in 2004 and won. Both parties joined the new Flemish government, led by CD&V leader Yves Leterme. Bart De Wever became new party leader, as Geert Bourgeois became minister.

The cartel was briefly broken when the former right-wing liberal Jean-Marie Dedecker left the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD) and entered the N-VA on behalf of the party executive. However, the party congress did not put Dedecker on the election list, instead preferring to continue the cartel with CD&V, who had strongly opposed placing him on a joint cartel list. Dedecker saw this as a vote of no confidence, and left the party after only 10 days, to form his own party, List Dedecker. Deputy leader Brepoels, who supported Dedecker, stepped down from the party board afterwards.

In the Belgian general election of 2007 CD&V/N-VA won a major victory again, with a campaign focusing on good governance, state reform and the division of the electoral district Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. They N-VA claimed five seats in the Chamber of Representatives and two seats in the Senate. Yves Leterme initiated coalition talks, which repeatedly stalled (see 2007–2008 Belgian government formation). On the 20 March 2008, a new federal government was finally assembled. N-VA did not join this government, but gave its support pending state reform.

The cartel ended definitely on 24 September 2008, due to lack of progression in state reform matters and a different strategy on future negotiations. N-VA left the Flemish Government and gave up its support of Leterme at the federal level.

Mainstream party[link]

In the regional elections of June 2009, N-VA won an unexpected 13% of the votes, making them the winner of the elections, along with their old cartel partner CD&V. N-VA subsequently joined the government, led by Kris Peeters (CD&V). Bart De Wever chose to remain party leader and appointed Geert Bourgeois and Philippe Muyters as ministers in the Flemish Government and Jan Peumans as speaker of the Flemish parliament.

Foundation and ideology[link]

The New Flemish Alliance is a relatively young political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. Being one of the successors 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 redefine Flemish nationalism in a contemporary, pro-European setting. Party leader De Wever calls himself a conservative and a nationalist.^[8]

The N-VA argues for a Flemish republic, a member state of a democratic European confederation. The party believes that the challenges of the 21st century can best be answered by strong communities and by well-developed international co-operation, a position which is reflected in their tagline: "Necessary in Flanders, useful in Europe." (Dutch: Nodig in Vlaanderen, nuttig in Europa.)

A label for the political orientation of the N-VA is difficult to find as the party combines both left and right-wing policies. According to its 2009 election programme for Flanders, the N-VA is economically liberal and ecologically green. It supports public transport, open source software, renewable energy and taxing cars by the actual number of kilometers driven. It wants more aid for developing countries but also more compulsory measures to require that immigrants learn Dutch.^{[citation needed]}

On the European level the N-VA is part of the European Free Alliance that consists mainly of regionalist or minority parties. The EFA forms a parliamentary group together with the European Green Party. The N-VA has been invited to move to the European Conservatives and Reformists group, after Bart De Wever was invited to talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron in March 2011.^[9]

Electorate[link]

At the federal elections in 2003 N-VA received 3.1% of the votes, but achieved only one seat in the federal parliament. In February 2004 they formed an electoral alliance (cartel) with Christian Democratic and Flemish. The cartel won the elections for the Flemish parliament. The N-VA received a total of 6 seats. However, on 21 September 2008 the N-VA lost its faith in the federal government and the following day minister Geert Bourgeois resigned. In a press conference he confirmed the end of the cartel CD&V/N-VA.

2007 federal elections[link]

In the 10 June 2007 general elections, the cartel won 30 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 9 out of 40 seats in the Senate.

2009 regional elections[link]

In the regional elections of June 11, 2009, N-VA (now on its own after the break of the cartel with CD&V) won an unexpected 13% of the votes, making them the winner of the elections along with their old cartel partner.

2010 federal elections[link]

Belgian general election, 2010

Election results[link]

Chamber of Representatives[link]

The six biggest Flemish political parties and their results for the House of Representatives (Kamer). From 1978 to 2010, in percentages of the total vote in Belgium.

Senate[link]

European Parliament[link]

Flemish Parliament[link]

Representation[link]

European Politics[link]

Federal Politics[link]

Chamber of Representatives
Constituency	Name	Notes
West Flanders	Bert Maertens	replaces Geert Bourgeois, joined Flemish Government
West Flanders	Daphné Dumery
West Flanders	Manu Beuselinck
West Flanders	Koenraad Degroote
East Flanders	Siegfried Bracke
East Flanders	Sarah Smeyers
East Flanders	Karel Uyttersprot
East Flanders	Peter Dedecker
East Flanders	Ingeborg De Meulemeester
East Flanders	Miranda Van Eetvelde
Antwerp	Jan Jambon	Floor leader
Antwerp	Sophie De Wit
Antwerp	Flor Van Noppen
Antwerp	Zuhal Demir
Antwerp	Reinilde Van Moer
Antwerp	Jan Van Esbroeck
Antwerp	Bert Wollants	replaces Kris Van Dijck, remaining MFP
Antwerp	Minneke De Ridder
Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde	Ben Weyts
Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde	Nadia Sminate
Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde	Kristien Van Vaerenbergh
Leuven	Theo Francken
Leuven	Els Demol
Limburg	Peter Luykx	replaces Frieda Brepoels, remaining MEP
Limburg	Veerle Wouters	replaces Jan Peumans, remaining MFP
Limburg	Steven Vandeput
Limburg	Karolien Grosemans

Regional politics[link]

Flemish Parliament
Constituency	Name	Notes
West Flanders	Wilfried Vandaele	replaces Geert Bourgeois, joined Flemish Government, later became MP
West Flanders	Danielle Godderis-T'Jonck
East Flanders	Helga Stevens	also Flemish Community Senator
East Flanders	Lieven Dehandschutter
East Flanders	Matthias Diependaele
East Flanders	Karim Van Overmeire	elected as a member of Vlaams Belang, joined N-VA at 31 August 2011
Antwerp	Bart De Wever	also Flemish Community Senator
Antwerp	Liesbeth Homans	also Flemish Community Senator
Antwerp	Marc Hendrickx
Antwerp	Kris Van Dijck	Floor leader
Antwerp	Goedele Vermeiren	replaces Sophie De Wit, became MP
Antwerp	Vera Celis
Flemish Brabant	Mark Demesmaeker
Flemish Brabant	Tine Eerlingen
Flemish Brabant	Willy Segers
Limburg	Jan Peumans	President of the Flemish Parliament
Limburg	Lies Jans

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://www.n-va.be/

v t e Political parties in Belgium Flemish CD&V (Christian Democratic and Flemish) Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) Groen (Green) N-VA (New Flemish Alliance) Open Vld (Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats) sp.a (Different Socialist Party) Francophone Ecolo cdH (Humanist Democratic Centre) FDF (Francophone Democratic Federalists) MR (Reformist Movement) PS (Socialist Party) German CSP (Christian Social Party) PFF (Party for Freedom and Progress) ProDG SP (Socialist Party) Minor Belgian Union Committee for Another Policy Communist Party Wallonia Flanders International Workers' League Left Socialist Party Libertarian, Direct, Democratic NEE People's Party Pirate Party Rally Wallonia France Revolutionary Communist League Vivant VLOTT Walloon Rally Workers' Party Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Belgium

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