Flanders, GE 2019

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I'll make a different poll for Wallonia GE later (Brussels GE has choice of both the Flemish and Walloon GE, and possibly a few minor parties as well, but mostly immigrant parties).

I've sorted the poll from far-right to far-left, and only included major parties. There are other minor parties, but they have no chance of winning a seat. Some of the parties that will contend the elections anyway are Dieranimal (animal right's party), Pirate Party of Belgium (maybe in a pro-Europe alliance with also Volt?), Belgian Union (monarchist, Belgian unionist party), a few far-left parties (that might form an alliance with PVDA?) and maybe a few immigrant parties like Flemish Multicultural Collective, Be.one and ISLAM.

There will be three different elections on one day. Voting is mandatory in Belgium, so they try to group all elections together and have elections on sunday when everyone is free. In 2019, we will have Flemish (regional), Federal (national) and European elections. During the Flemish elections, we elect people into Flemish parliament, and a majority will be formed between the parties to form a Flemish government. During the federal elections, we do the same for federal parliament and federal parliament, while Brussels does the same for the Brussels government and Brussels parliament, and Walloons do the same thing for the Walloon parliament and the Walloon government. During the European elections, a number of seats will be up and be distributed over the Flemish parties depending on how we vote (and also Brussels and Walloon parties). The constituency is also different. During Flemish and federal elections, i can only vote for people who live in my province (there are 5 provinces in Flanders), while in the European elections, the constituency is the entirety of Flanders, and thus in Flanders we all have the same European list. There is also a chance that Carles Puigdemont will pull the list for N-VA in Flanders (or Brussels).

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

There is also a chance that Carles Puigdemont will pull the list for N-VA in Flanders (or Brussels).

What does this mean?

[LAKISYLVANIA]

My order now:

1. PVDA
2. Green
3. Purple parties: Pirate's Party / Volt
4. s.pa
5. Dieranimal (animal rights party)
6. Vlaams Belang
7. CD&V
8. N-VA
9. Open VLD

PVDA is not 100% sure but it has currently my preference, and it will depend on their campaign and which people will pull the lists or be on the lists. PVDA and Groen are the only parties i could possibly vote for in 2019. That could change in 2024, but my mind for 2019 is made up. I could also possibly split vote, but i'll see.

PVDA: Socially left-wing, economically far-left. I'm currently a member of this political party, and while i don't necessarily agree with everything, but i agree with most things. I'm just a bit more centrist on immigration, while this party is left-wing on it (just like any other left-wing and even centrist party). They're a very environmental party as well, with prominent environmentalists on the list (who i'll vote for in particular). The party considers itself marxist. I consider myself democratic socialist, and consider myself part of the environmentalist wing. Some people on the lists might not be capable of holding office, and i'll vote for the people who i believe are capable of decent communication skills, have a future in the party, aren't too radical and environmentalist. The party has a very radical (maoist) past, and because of their marxist views, they still occassionally make facebook posts over Venezuela which i truly dislike as Venezuela isn't really something to be proud of, and since i also don't believe that when PVDA will take power, Belgium will suddenly change in it. PVDA is currently a small party, and we desperately need a party like Podemos, La France Insoumise or Die Linke here. They have tons of good proposals. They're most in favour of gilets jaunes movement, were able to abolish a flat energy tax (of 100 euros) on something that was already taxed, and they were in opposition to that, and went to court that declared the extra tax unjusitfied, and abolished it. They've done a great job in opposition (with only 2 parliamentary members), while the s.pa was mostly a failure of it. The left-wing opposition was called by many the weakest opposition ever in Belgium. s.pa even loses in opinion polls despite being in opposition, and PVDA seems to profit from it, and have increased their support, especially in Brussels and Wallonia. They also want to reduce the amount of parliamentary members, want to reduce parliamentary wages, want to reduce the amount of governments, abolish provinces, which would all decrease taxes, or cause taxes to be spend on other things like free public transport, more support for small companies, and working class proposals. And they oppose the raise of the retirement age.

Green: The other party i'm in favour of, but there are some things i dislike about them. I'm not a big fan of their political high-interest figures, and they're a bit too socially liberal to my taste, but i still consider it one of the most progressive parties with good proposals. What i dislike though is that they approve the OVLD more than the PVDA, while the latter one has much better climate proposals than the first one. One thing i also dislike is that they never wanted to talk with N-VA during Antwerp coalition talks, while they had the power to make the administration at least more climate-friendly. On the other hand, i'm also afraid that if they'll take part in federal administration, that the government might not be "green" or "pro-climate" enough, if they don't have influence, so i'm a bit torn on that, on what i prefer them to do. A Green, N-VA and Open VLD + MR and Ecolo (liberal + nationalist + green) coalition is a possibility, and it would show that the greens are capable of being in power as we don't have really proof of that yet, and as they haven't showed that they're willling to participate in any high-profile administration so far. Voting Green would however send a strong signal that we need to do something about the climate as soon as possible, but i think it hurts them that they're so social liberal that it could alienate some voters who are anti-immigration, but pro-climate. That's what i'm afraid off, and sometimes their proposals are too radical social liberal, while i think there is nothing wrong with some of our traditions, and that immigrants should adapt to our society and not vice versa.

The reasons i don't vote for other parties are as following:

s.pa: A vote for s.pa is a vote for PS. s.pa isn't consequently left, and isn't afraid to govern together with the right-wing parties, while they have zero influence over policy decisions or the administration. I like the chairman and i sympathize with him and he's from my province, so i'll expect they'll do a bit here than anywhere else, especially since the Greens and PVDA are less established here. I feel a bit of compassion for the social democrat chairman, but i don't think that many members of that party still know what they stand for, and they and especially their Walloon counterparts are named in a lot of corruption scandals. It would send a wrong signal if i vote for them, and i want to vote for a truly left-wing party, not one that would possibly abandon their views to participate in a government i don't support and especially if they participate in a not social government (with N-VA), which they've already done in the Antwerp administration, and there is nothing social in the agreement. I don't understand what they stand for, or what is even socialist about them.

Without their chairman, they would drop in my rankings, possibly even 8th or 9th place.

Vlaams Belang I'm not far-right, but this would be a protest vote, as they're extremely unlikely to take power, and are right on some issues, but wrong on other issues. I also think immigration policies should be much tougher, but not as tough as they want, and they lack a bit of nuance in their views. I also don't seem to like some of their politicians who are too right-wing, or some organizations behind it, while i can respect other politicians of it. I prefer them over N-VA because they're economically on the left side, but I would never vote for them as long they don't change their policy over climate change, become even more left-wing on some economic issues, and don't blame literally everything on the left, the media and immigrants and victimize literally everything.

CD&V I don't know enough what they stand for, but you can already know that they and OVLD will be part of the next government. They have a catholic past, and i'm basically an atheist. I'm in favour of a secular society, but CD&V is to be honest a really moderate party, nothing like the evangelical wing of the Republican Party. They're a family's party who are in favour of the status quo, and the most centrist party in Belgium. They were in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage in 2002 which is truly remarkable for a christian democratic party, but they don't seem to have a true ideology, and are in some way a party of power (especially in rural areas). I won't vote for them, because i literally see no reason why to vote for them, especially since they'll most likely be in the government / administration who will take power anyway (no matter if it's the right or the left), and because i don't want them to be in charge of education (which i prefer to go to a different party, which is more progressive / liberal, incl. N-VA here).

N-VA There are five reasons why i don't vote for them. Their crime policies are very terrible. The "war on drugs" is outdated and doesn't work. Secondly, their economic policies are very right-wing, just like with OVLD and not social. Thirdly, they're probably the most interventionist party, and most in favour of building our defence. Fourth, they have literally done nothing for the climate in the past six years, which is a crucial issue to me, and Belgium is currently behind on climate initiatives thanks to them. During global climate meetings, Belgium doesn't side with the progressive powers on the table. And last but not least, i won't support a party that decided to let the government collapse over a non-issue (Global Migration Compact), and decides to make an opportunist move, just to profit from the opposition effect. They're a neoliberal party, who make very opportunist moves, and are at times hypocritical. I also don't like the person of Theo Francken who is the most popular Flemish politician currently (and called the Belgian Trump). They have said to lower the amount of mandates and party finances, but currently nothing is done, and the system currently benefits them.

Open VLD: The party i voted for in 2014 and i regret it very much. The liberal chairwoman is very right-wing on economic issues, and isn't sympathetic. This isn't the party for the working class or middle class, but for people who're doing really well, and aren't struggling with their finances. I think our PM is okay, but the chairwoman of the Flemish counterparts is someone who i really dislike, and much more to the right than our PM. The party is very economically right-wing, also kind of neoliberal and their climate efforts are absolutely neglectible (even though they say they're in favour of climate change action, but i haven't seen anything real they've done). They're literally right now the last party i consider voting for right now.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

There is also a chance that Carles Puigdemont will pull the list for N-VA in Flanders (or Brussels).

What does this mean?

that he could possibly be first on the list, and easily be elected into European parliament but in name of the N-VA (flemish nationalists).

[DavidB.]

VB. Without a strong VB as electoral competitor, the N-VA can be as squishy as they like. I also very much dislike the N-VA taking part in the cordon sanitaire, which is especially unnecessary in a place like Ninove.

I don't think there's any place where I hate the "center-right" (CD&V and Open VLD) as much as in Flanders.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

In Ninove, the centrist parties have lost and should have taken their conclusions, which they don't. Now, the democracy feels like a joke here, and it will benefit far-right and right-wing parties in the long run.

twitter post

This is exactly the reason why i hate the liberals here in Belgium so much. In reality, i'm probably a social liberal or liberal on social issues, but they alienate me with hypocrisy. They claim to be the most democratic party, but are the least democratic party of them all. If we had second presidential rounds, be sure of it, i would've voted far-right if no green or far-left candidate went to the second round, and if it was between the liberal and far-right party, not because i'm against immigration or in favour of their issues, but because i'm against nepotism, corruption and their terrible candidates who've totally no feeling with the people, and i also think Vlaams Belang' economic policies would hurt me less than OVLD ones. And OVLD does nothing against climate change, so why bother even supporting them. I can't understand why anyone who isn't part of the top 1% richest would even support them.

I think we'll all be shocked and surprised by the GE results next year but Vlaams Belang and N-VA will together have the best results ever, while greens and far-left will have the best result ever in their history for both (which is almost already a sure thing). The traditional parties will suffer.

[Velasco]

Maybe PVDA, but possibly Groen

[Conservatopia]

1. NVA
2. VLD
3. VB
4. CD&V

[Velasco]

There is also a chance that Carles Puigdemont will pull the list for N-VA in Flanders (or Brussels).

What does this mean?

that he could possibly be first on the list, and easily be elected into European parliament but in name of the N-VA (flemish nationalists).

Wow, I overlooked this!

I knew that Puigdemont has good friends in the N-VA, but didn't know he could run for the EP. Now I see the idea isn't new. Is it still a possibility? Great!

 As far as I'm concerned, Puigdemont can stay in Waterloo forever. He speaks French a little and he could learn Dutch from his Flemish friends. Everybody wins (except the Belgian government, perhaps)

[Former President tack50]

Probably sp.a

[MAINEiac4434]

PVDA easily.

[Zinneke]

Depends where I live I guess, if I lived in a city I'd vote Groen solely to get congestion down and maybe add an extra 10 years of my life. Although I'm not sure that's a good thing given the retirement ages continue to go up. If I lived in the periphery I would vote Défi to merge with Brussels. Otherwise I would vote for some minor party with a chance of making some inroads.

The three traditional pillar representatives (sp.a, CD&V, Open VLd) are corrupt to the core and mainly represent their syndicalised sections of society. Only VLD actually initiates policies that are original any way and they are excessively neo-liberal and most of their personel are "fils à papa" that  have zero idea of how small income households struggle in day to day life.

N-VA have just become a bland Right-Wing Populist Party with a catch all strategy. If I was a nationalist I'd be questioning my vote for them.

VB are obvious neo-fascists.  

PVDA are a testimonial party. I understand why people vote for them (just like I understand the people who vote for the VB for largely the reasons David outlined, even if I don't condone it because unlike PVDA, VB use the electoral funds afforded to them to harm sections of society they don't like), but I don't agree in the testimonial or protest vote strategy.

My order now:

s.pa: A vote for s.pa is a vote for PS.

Come on, this tired argument again. Its pretty obvious by now that sp.a can join a federal government without the PS, its just that if the N-VA is incontournable now, then so was the PS back in 2010.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I would potentially vote for a gilets jaunes list or M5S list if we ever get one here. All left-wing parties are far-left on immigration, incl. CD&V and Open VLD that are left-wing, but all right-wing parties are right-wing or far-right on climate issues, and OVLD and N-VA are right-wing on economic issues. I want a left-wing economic party that's right of the center but not extreme on immigration.

[Kingpoleon]

1. Open VLD
2. CD&V

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

1. CD&V
2. N-VA
3. Open VLD

[Zinneke]

I would potentially vote for a gilets jaunes list or M5S list if we ever get one here. All left-wing parties are far-left on immigration, incl. CD&V and Open VLD that are left-wing, but all right-wing parties are right-wing or far-right on climate issues, and OVLD and N-VA are right-wing on economic issues. I want a left-wing economic party that's right of the center but not extreme on immigration.

Sorry but the gillet jaunes movement here in Belgium is even more insufferable than the "publicised" one in France. Mainly because they are the embodiment of the sedentary mentalities of this country with regards to urban planning, transport and their sense of entitlement over cars etc. It may be the city boy in me speaking but I simply do not get the Belgian, particularly Flemish, pendelaar mentality of wanting to have a company car to commute from your home village in the Kempen to Bxl or West Flanders to Antwerp. We aren't as vast as America, and we have a country of similar size just north of us that handles its transport and population distribution far better (granted its flatter). If you complain about your fuel costs...move closer to the city. Brussels is dirt cheap compared to every single Western European capital.

[Lechasseur]

CD&V