Belgian Politics & Elections: Federal, regional & EP elections on June 9, 2024

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Climate activist Anuna De Wever targeted in Pukkelpop incident

Climate activist Anuna De Wever targeted in Pukkelpop incident

The renowned Pukkelpop music festival in Kiewit (Limburg) was disturbed by an incident in which the young Belgian climate activist Anuna De Wever was targeted. De Wever was first booed while she was on stage for her climate campaign, and she and some friends were later harrassed at their tent on the festival campsite.

The problems started on the Boiler Room stage, where De Wever held the "Clap for Climate" action together with the Flemish film director and fellow climate activist Nic Balthazar. The aim was to have the people clap their hands together to highlight the global warming issue.

Part of the audience cooperated, while others booed De Wever. "It's normal that some people support the action, while others are against. Anuna can cope with that", said festival spokesman Frederik Luyten. However, Anuna De Wever said it was the first time the response was so negative. She had staged similar actions at Dranouter, the Lokerse Feesten and the Cactus Festival.


However, organisers say a line was crossed by what happened afterwards. De Wever and her friends were reportedly harrassed on the campsite. There are talks of verbal abuse, and bottles filled with urine being thrown at them. Jeroen De Preter's daughter was also targeted in the incident: he writes on Twitter that "I just talked to my daughter on the telephone. She was deeply touched by what happened. After Anuna had been spotted at their tent, young men kept them awake uttering death threats; bottles filled with urine were hurled at them and a party tent was destroyed."

About 20 "black" lion flags were seized after the incident

De Wever and her friends got protection from security teams at the site. Festival organisers have announced an investigation, adding that "such things shouldn't have happened. It is completely unacceptable that people are being harrassed at a music festival, for whichever reason."

There may be a link with right extremist groups. Organisers have seized some 20 Flemish lion flags after the incidents; these flags show the lion with black claws and not with the traditional red claws. Organisers called this "black flag" a "collaboration flag" but this was not well received by Flemish nationalist MP Peter De Roover (N-VA), who demands public apologies.



It's like this is the flag of Nazi Germany or of CSA I think the Flemish flag is great, and should not be seen as a collaboration flag and is more comparable with the German/Prussian eagle, but my main concern is the radicalisation of the youth, especially on the right. They're surprisingly the strongest voting bloc for both PVDA-PTB, the Greens (probably) and Flemish Interest, and i've seen that around my friends and people around here as well. I live in a region where Flemish Interest did very well and N-VA has lost a substantial amount of vote in West-Flanders (lacking strong persons in this region of the country).

I have five people who've liked the page of Dries Van Langenhove including my dad and three former classmates

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://www.facebook.com/comacstudenten/videos/561524894381555/

Sad that a music festival gets politicized. Here a group of youngsters boo'ed at Flemish right-wing activists while singing: "Come on Belgium, Come on Belgium"

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Di Rupo announced an agreement on a Walloon government of MR, PS, and Ecolo.

Does this mean that a similar coalition can be formed on the federal level?

Short answer is yes, although they still fall one or two seats short but Défi and maybe CD&V would back them in, the latter needing a big portfolio.

Given Belgium's reputation, short answer is never the likely outcome.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/de-grote-peiling-vlaams-belang-wipt-over-n-va-naar-eerste-plaats-dramatische-score-voor-cd-v-en-sp-a~a8e15ff7/?fbclid=IwAR2ub89AaqZQ8dRVbNlDkx6v52_Y_EulKOm-5dDreT2odyQ1i49U4Zmp5gM

New polling. Far-right Vlaams Belang now takes the lead.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I'm very opposed to Jambon I, which seems to be a very asocial government. Can honestly say that i oppose 90% of what they've agreed upon. Now awaiting federal government formation, possibly liberals - socdems and flemish nationalists. Although i'd prefer a green - liberal - flemish nationalist government.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

CD&V's leadership is a joke, but I prefer Sammy Mehdi. Would be a fresh young face for the party, with immigration background. That would be good. Glad Magnette will be chairman of PS. I'm both not in favour of Rzoska and Almaci in Groen and they likely won't get my vote, especially after they cancelled a climate march in Ghent. Not interested in who become MR chairman that much. In s.pa my preference goes to Hannes De Reu, and in VLD my preference goes to loyal mayor Francesco Vanderjeugd (also a young fresh face).

[LAKISYLVANIA]

An amendment was filled in by PVDA-PTB (the marxists) about creating more funds for nurses & so (the white march as it was called), and was accepted by far-right VB, both the green parties, and both socialist while the center-left walloon parties and regionalists (Défi) abstained.

This is exactly why i hate the neoliberal parties (cd&v, n-va and open vld), and why i think VB is less bad than them. A s.pa / PS / Groen / Ecolo / PVDA-PTB / VB government will never happen, but it's my preference.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

VLD always namecalling us communists and us being the same as VB is also something that bothers me. It's one of the reasons why i internationally am very hesitant to support (neo-)liberals. Why would they vote against more funds for care sector, and especially nurses which are demanded so much by the economy. Make it an attractive profession!

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Sophie Wilmès will replace Charles Michel as Prime Minister. First woman prime minister in Belgian history.

It's more symbolic, because this government can't do much. It's all about the next government.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Sophie Wilmès will replace Charles Michel as Prime Minister. First woman prime minister in Belgian history.

It's more symbolic, because this government can't do much. It's all about the next government.

Welcome to the club.

We're used to it.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Walter De Donder (candidate CD&V chairman & "the mayor from a child show") has said that there are districts in Antwerp that are completely depopulated by "our people". A controversial statement, especially from a CD&V candidate chairman. He definitely wants to profile himself as the most anti-immigration CD&V chairman. Not a bad decision in my belief.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Walter De Donder : "Il y a des quartiers entièrement vidés de notre propre population"

In french for the ones who read it. Dries Van Langenhove (leader of the white identitarian group Shield & Friends and MP for federal parliament Belgium) has approved his views. Some far-right Vlaams Belangers have said that this sounds promising for 2024 (a CD&V, N-VA and VB coalition).

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Very positive reactions on social media about Walter De Donder. Could "Kabouter Plop" become a candidate PM for the future? Who knows, but it might destroy my childhood memories He tries to be the "right-wing" candidate on. He also sounds like the most populist candidate.



This is the almost complete opposite candidate who's more to the left on immigration, called Sammy Mahdi. Chairman of young CD&V. Would be a young face. He responded with: Leviticus 19:34. #christendemocratie like a real christian democrat.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://www.facebook.com/UNDIVIDEDKULeuven/

Radicalizing youngsters at Royal University Leuven. They think it's funny, but minimalizing Congo genocide, saying LGBTQ are sick, defending slavery and so on... aren't. I'm really afraid of the radicalizing youngsters.

Meanwhile i've heard from my mom & dad that children are robbed by immigrants here in this city, so in some way i understand the negative sentiment towards immigrants.

The right solution seems to be to be harsh on crime. When immigrants do a crime, they should be sent back to country of origin. We should be very harsh on crime, as well as youth crime. But should also strongly condemn radicalizing youngsters and bully behavior from radicalizing students.

This needs to stop, because it's destabilizing the world. If we continue like this, we will be on our way to dark years.

I also believe we need an immigrant stop to stabilize the country, call it a national crisis and focus on integrating immigrants, as well as REINTEGRATING second and third immigration childs, and return to normalcy when it comes to our values and culture. No more refugees, no more immigrants from muslim countries, spread immigrants towards our whole country (instead of the ghetto's we have now), and focus on integrating them. Immigrants who violate the rule, no mercy and back to the country where they belong.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I think though that Mahdi and the President of Plopsaland are beginning to touch upon an issue though, which is that Belgian society tends to segregate itself (it was the case when we had football clubs for the catholic pillar and for secular people for example, until it became financially unviable). And now (Greater) Brussels and Antwerp are clearly designed to ensure sections of society don't mix, which creates perceived racial segregation (and "entire districts gone to foreigners" perceptions) when really its a much more complex issue.

Mahdi of course is far more effective at communicating that in a more nuanced way, especially how its not about race, nor indeed an extension of some sort of Clash of Civilisation, but more about micro-cultural aspects.

As long as you have VB and Theo Francken monopolising the immigration issue though its going to be tough not to fall into "amalgames"...the Morroccan (largely Berber origin) kids in Molenbeek are third generation immigrants, I'm a second generation immigrant myself. We are as Belgian as each other...why they are amalgamated with Syrian refugees while I am not is where the racism really lies.

You're a good example of an immigrant (2nd gen) that fully integrated and it's sad a small group is ruining it for everyone, and especially the ones that try to do good. It's because of people like you i don't vote for the right, even though i'm right-wing on immigration, crime and that kind of issues. Reasonable right though. But I avoid talking about the issue in my own political party (PVDA-PTB), because they're left-wing or far-left on immigration, and i'm okay with it as my most important issues i side with them.

Second and third generation Belgians are Belgians. That's something i fully agree with, but crime should be harsh, for both whites, Belgians, immigrants or whatever. First gen needs to be sent back in case of major crime (robbery included). We need more national security. I think it's not okay that children are robbed (like 6 in my town) in the last week. This was something that didn't happen years ago.

I've read that in the region of Walsall and Birmingham, the incidents with knives have also strongly risen. I think that's unacceptable for a developed country like the UK.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Theo Francken prijst Donald Trump: “Hij staat aan de kant van de kleine man, van het volk”

Theo Francken praises Donald Trump: "He sides with the side of the small man, the people". He has realized a lot in his first term. Trump has vision, direction and an agenda.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

"If Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders becomes the nominee, i'll support Trump".

Hmm, i now know who not to vote for.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

In Flanders, Walter De Donder (Kabouter Plop, The Mayor from Samson & Gert -> two child shows) and Sammy Mehdi are the favourites for CD&V. De Donder would be a turn to the right while Mehdi would be a turn to the left.



vs

[LAKISYLVANIA]

In Flanders, Walter De Donder (Kabouter Plop, The Mayor from Samson & Gert -> two child shows) and Sammy Mehdi are the favourites for CD&V. De Donder would be a turn to the right while Mehdi would be a turn to the left.

What exactly would that entail? Would a turn to the right mean moving closer to the N-VA (more economically liberal and nationalist) and a turn to the left becoming something like ChristenUnie?

And, more generally, who votes for CD&V, other than retirees and farmers? Is the religious immigrant vote actually significant?

Hard to predict, but i think you're right there.

I don't know, conservatives, religious people also vote CD&V. It has no support from the youth. In pollings between 18 and 25 years old, both s.pa and CD&V score below 5%. VB, Open VLD, N-VA, Groen and PVDA do better among youngsters. I have to meet a youngster who back them. I have a lot of PVDA friends here, but Vlaams Belang is really popular in my neighbourhood and friend circle.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Does Belgium yet have a national government.  They took a record 583 days in one earlier and with how fragmented seems like forming a national one before New Year will be tough.  I suspect though socialists and/or Greens will be included this time while between Liberals and Christian Democrats, one or both will be.  Since Liberalism is different in Europe than English speaking world, which would be more open to a left wing one and which more for a right wing one of Christian Democrats and Liberals?

Liberals wanted to have a right-wing coalition. CD&V prefers right-wing coalition as well.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I support Mahdi. My mom said he stands for radical christian democracy, while Coens stands for nothing and is more of the same, no charisma, no story, not appealing to voters, another nobody middle-of-the-way christian democrat with no real proposals but entering any coalition they can. If they vote for Mahdi, i might put christian democrat on my to watchlist for the next elections, although it's still a 5% chance i'll vote for them, and I don't vote in European elections for EPP. Walter De Donder who already lost would have been a fresh choice with a clear right-of-center on immigration view, so that would have been an interesting choice at well.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Apparently there have been talks for a green - social democrat - liberal coalition. N-VA said the Open VLD supporters wouldn't appreciate this move, especially since this would have a minority on flemish side.

Though it's the coallition i want.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Yes, i was once also a VLD progressive but got alienated by the party's right-wing stances esp. on economy. But VLD is here the king maker, and it would be ideal. It would still be a government where will be critical, and I would still be skeptical but it's much better than the alternative: N-VA, social democrats & liberals, which would be similar as the VVD - PvdA coalition once in the Netherlands, and where i would be scared to see the death of social democrats, although that can in time turn out to be well for the PVDA.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Coens elected with 53% of the vote as new chairman of CD&V. Sad they didn't give Mehdi a chance. That would have been a fresh and interesting face. Coens is just a boring white guy who will contribute nothing, not change the party direction, and make a bland party even more bland. I think I would rank Open VLD suddenly again above CD&V again.

1) PVDA-PTB
2) Ecolo
3) Groen
4) s.pa
5) PS
6) MR
7) Défi
cdH
9) Open VLD
10) CD&V
11) Vlaams Belang
12) N-VA

would be my order.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

And shows PVDA growing and becoming as big as the social democrats and the liberals.