 Local elections in Belgium are expected to strengthen the anti-immigrant Flemish far right in the run-up to next year's parliamentary election. The Flemish far-right party Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) could take control of the northern port city of Antwerp after partial results from state television suggested it will make a strong showing in the city.
| “The party has been kept in opposition by a coalition whose only common cause has been keeping Antwerp out of the hands of the anti-immigrant party.” |
The party has been kept in opposition by a coalition whose only common cause has been keeping Antwerp out of the hands of the anti-immigrant party. Vlaams Belang won 33 per cent of the vote in the 2000 municipal polls in its former guise as Vlaams Blok, which was found guilty of racism in 2004. Filip Dewinter, the party's leader, was optimistic that his party could make another breakthrough after successes in local elections six years ago and regional elections two years ago. |