"Viktor Orban can bring about change, but he'll need allies"

For years, the Flemish party Vlaams Belang has been the most popular party in Belgium, and next year they have the chance of winning the elections. One of their main campaign points is the independence of Flanders, which could lead to the end of the Belgium we know today. Magyar Nemzet spoke to Tom Van Grieken, the party's leader, about this, the migratory pressure on Europe and the war in Ukraine.

POLITICS FEDERAL PARLIAMENT PLENARY SESSION Fotó: JASPER JACOBS

One of your party's main campaign themes is the declaration of independence for Flanders. Is there a realistic possibility for this in 21st century Europe?

To understand the future, we need to understand the past. I believe that few people in Hungary - and in Europe for that matter - are aware of how Belgium came to be. It is an artificially created state where two peoples are forced to live together. 60% of Belgium's population is Dutch-speaking, and we call ourselves Flemish. By contrast, the remaining forty percent are French-speaking. Despite this, French became the state language, and for a very long time it was not even possible to study in Dutch in state-run higher education, for example.

In terms of demography, the majority of the population is Flemish and we account for seventy percent of the country's tax revenues and about eighty percent of exports. In addition, there are many differences in political affiliations: in recent decades, the country’s northern, Flemish part has consistently voted for the right or centre-right, while the Walloons have voted for the Left. In the government, however, we are again underrepresented. Belgium is a very strange state, it’s like living in a forced marriage.

To answer your question, this is why I think it is realistic to talk about separation. A divorce also begins when one party says: "I've had enough!" How quickly the process can be completed is another matter. If we win in 2024, that could be the starting point. Then the process can begin and a negotiated agreement can be reached that benefits everyone. After all, it is better to be good neighbors than to stay in a bad marriage.

 

How could a split like this affect other European regions that are seeking independence?

I don’t know, and I think it’s important to note here that I’m driven solely by the interests of my people. We Flemish are in a special situation, because it has never occurred in history that a majority wanted to break away from a minority. This is unprecedented. This is why we do not want to influence other movements. Everyone has to fight their own battle, it is not for us to decide how others shape their identity or transform their state.

At the beginning of our conversation, you mentioned that there are growing economic problems in the country. How does the war in Ukraine affect all this?

Of course, it has a significant impact, mainly because Belgium’s government is made up of incompetent people. Some twenty years ago, leaders of the liberal Green party decided that Belgium should turn its back on nuclear energy and rely more on natural gas. before the war a large part of the country's natural gas imports came from Russia. Then came February 24, 2022, and the government, along with the European Union, imposed sanctions, and parted with Russian energy carriers, which entails consequences. I think this move was a big mistake. I love Europe, but I hate the European Union.

Europe's strength lies in its diplomacy and economic power. What are the leaders of the EU and of most member states doing? They are severing diplomatic ties with Russia and ruining their own economies. Sanctions do not have a negative impact on Russia, but on our own people.

And there has been no mention of arms supplies, which only lead to a protracted war. Belgium was one of the first countries to decide to support Kyiv in this area. Would this change if Vlaams Belang were in government?

Absolutely. Weapons deliveries were never an option for us. Peace is the answer to war and de-escalation to escalation. Of course, we condemn Russia's aggression and stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, I do not see how further arms shipments could bring an end to the war. Initially, it was only defensive military equipment, and now they would send fighter jets. Western liberal leaders are so brave that they would fight Russia to the last Ukrainian. This is not the solution. A responsible leader should work to end the conflict, end the suffering, end the killing and end the economic decline.

Cover photo: Tom Van Grieken, leader  of Flemish Vlaams Belang party (Photo: AFP/Belga Mag/Jasper Jacobs)