People's Union (Belgium)
Encyclopedia
People's Union was a Belgian
political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish
nationalists
.
The party initially proved successful and had members elected to the Chamber of Representatives (five) and the Senate
(two) of the Belgian Federal Parliament
in 1961. The party continued to grow in stature and reached the 11.0% at the national level in 1978 elections, gaining 21 representatives. Generally, however, the Volksunie preferred to position itself around the centre
and saw itself as a coalition of various shades of Flemish thought.
The acceptance of federalism
in place of separatism
by VU in the 1970s did not sit well with the party's right-wing and a split became inevitable, particularly after the party entered the coalition government
of Leo Tindemans (CVP
, Christian-Democrat). The right wing organized itself in the Vlaams Blok
, which became a much stronger political force and surpassed Volksunie at the beginning of the Nineties (6.6% against VU's 5.9% in 1991 elections).
Volksunie continued its decline (5.6% in 1999 elections
against the 9.9% of the Blok), while the left-right struggle re-emerged in 2001, and finally the party split into the New-Flemish Alliance
(the right-wing) and Spirit
(the left-wing). Both parties were participating in federal and regional elections as part of a cartel
, the New-Flemish Alliance forming an alliance with CD&V
, and Spirit with the SP.a
, but in the meantime these cartels split up.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish
Flemish Community
The term Flemish Community has two distinct, though related, meanings:...
nationalists
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
.
The party initially proved successful and had members elected to the Chamber of Representatives (five) and the Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
(two) of the Belgian Federal Parliament
Belgian Federal Parliament
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...
in 1961. The party continued to grow in stature and reached the 11.0% at the national level in 1978 elections, gaining 21 representatives. Generally, however, the Volksunie preferred to position itself around the centre
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
and saw itself as a coalition of various shades of Flemish thought.
The acceptance of federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
in place of separatism
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
by VU in the 1970s did not sit well with the party's right-wing and a split became inevitable, particularly after the party entered the coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
of Leo Tindemans (CVP
Christian Democratic and Flemish
The Christian Democratic and Flemish is a political party of Belgium, formerly called Christian People's Party...
, Christian-Democrat). The right wing organized itself in the Vlaams Blok
Vlaams Blok
The Vlaams Blok was a Belgian far-right and secessionist political party with an anti-immigration platform. Its ideologies embraced Flemish nationalism, calling for the independence of Flanders. From its creation in 1978, it was the most notable militant right wing of the Flemish movement. Vlaams...
, which became a much stronger political force and surpassed Volksunie at the beginning of the Nineties (6.6% against VU's 5.9% in 1991 elections).
Volksunie continued its decline (5.6% in 1999 elections
Belgian general election, 1999
The June 13, 1999 Belgian general elections was a Belgian election for the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Belgian Senate. The federal general elections were held on the same day as the European elections and the regional elections. The Flemish Liberals and Democrats won the elections.The...
against the 9.9% of the Blok), while the left-right struggle re-emerged in 2001, and finally the party split into the New-Flemish Alliance
New-Flemish Alliance
' is a Flemish right-wing political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a conservative and liberal movement that promotes civic nationalism...
(the right-wing) and Spirit
Spirit (Belgium)
' was a Belgian Flemish political party formed after dissolution of the moderate nationalist People's Union party. Prior to 19 April 2008 it was known as Spirit, and intermediately as Flemish Progressives...
(the left-wing). Both parties were participating in federal and regional elections as part of a cartel
Cartel
A cartel is a formal agreement among competing firms. It is a formal organization of producers and manufacturers that agree to fix prices, marketing, and production. Cartels usually occur in an oligopolistic industry, where there is a small number of sellers and usually involve homogeneous products...
, the New-Flemish Alliance forming an alliance with CD&V
Christian Democratic and Flemish
The Christian Democratic and Flemish is a political party of Belgium, formerly called Christian People's Party...
, and Spirit with the SP.a
Socialist Party - Different
' is a Flemish social-democratic party in Belgium. It was formerly known as the Socialistische Partij , which in turn had branched off from the Belgian Socialist Party, itself formed by former members of the Belgian Labour Party.-1978-now:The party was the big winner in the 2003 election, running...
, but in the meantime these cartels split up.