Vlaams Belang Gains Position in Belgium's House

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 002313

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: Vlaams Belang Gains Position in Belgium's House
of Representatives



1. (SBU) The far-right, nationalist Vlaams Belang (VB)
party set political observers talking with its win of a
vice-presidency slot in Belgium's House of
Representatives July 12, in a vote that saw Flemish and
Francophone House members opposing each other. VB is the
fifth largest party in the House, and thus qualifies for
slots on the House's executive board. In the past, both
Flemish and Francophone parties worked together to deny
VB such perks, a symbolic move since VB continued to
enjoy public funding, pro rated to its numbers in the
House, the same as other parties represented in
Parliament. VB has also taken part in House commission
and plenary discussions without any hindrance.


2. (SBU) The Francophone parties tried again this year
to deny VB a House vice-presidency position, but failed
to win support from the Flemish members (Francophone
members are outnumbered 62 to 88 in the Parliament).
Belgium's traditional political parties abide by self-
imposed restrictions (the "cordone sanitaire") in their
dealings with the Vlaams Belang, restrictions designed to
ostracize VB by preventing it from joining any coalition
government at any level. In Parliament, however, the
"cordon sanitaire" is at times implemented differently,
since it is difficult to deny "perks" when VB enjoys
public funding based on the strength of its numbers.
Elio Di Rupo, leader of the Francophone socialists,
decried the VB appointment as an example of "Flemish
domination." Di Rupo was quoted as saying "the
francophone parties were resolutely opposed to seeing a
racist and xenophobic party represented at the top of our
federal system."


3. (SBU) While some observers have bemoaned the move as
the "beginning of the end" for the "cordone sanitaire,"
others note that, despite the House vote to give VB the
vice-presidency slot, none of the traditional political
parties have any intention of starting political or
government talks with the Vlaams Belang. VB will remain
an opposition party at all levels of government.

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