Flemish party banned as racist by Belgium's high court

Anthony Butcher · 10-11-2004, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Belgium's most popular political party was banned as racist by the country's high court yesterday, fuelling concerns that the judicial branch is being used to eliminate political enemies.

The Vlaams Blok, a Flemish independence party promising to abolish Belgium as a nation, now cannot receive funding of any kind, and will have to disband.

Frank Vanhecke, the party's chairman, accused the ruling elite of using totalitarian tactics to stop legitimate political expression and vowed to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

"This is an attack on democracy and free speech. Our political opponents have changed the racism laws six times in a campaign to have us condemned. What they have done today is shocking," he said.

mkpdavies · 10-11-2004, 09:35 AM

RIP democracy in Belgium.

Where is Brussels again?

Anthony Butcher · 15-11-2004, 09:16 PM

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3762428

Quote:

UK Independence Party MEP Nigel Farage tonight condemned a court ban on the Belgian far-right Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Blok as an incitement to extremism and possibly violence.

Mr Farage, who leads UKIP’s 11 Euro-MPs in Strasbourg, said last week’s ban was of serious concern to everyone who believed in democracy.

Addressing the Strasbourg chamber he went on: “The Belgian Supreme Court has upheld a previous ruling that declares the Vlaams Blok a criminal organisation and effectively bans it.

“Nobody in my Group (UKIP) supports the ideology or the practice of the Vlaams Blok, but in a democracy that is not the point. It is for the electorate and not the courts to make political decisions, and actions such as this can only increase political extremism and perhaps the use of violence.”

Mr Farage went on: “Today these events have taken place in Belgium, but tomorrow it could be the European Union.

I thought that he put it well, although I don't know the details of why the party was banned. Obviously we should worry about attacks on democracy, but I would hope that this kind of action wouldn't be taken unless the party was actually acting in a dangerous manner. I need to look INTO phpbb_it more I think.

Quote:

Labour Euro-MP Richard Corbett dismissed Mr Farage’s fears for free speech tonight, saying: “It is notable that UKIP, which claims not to be a far-right party, should take the trouble to take up the issue of the Vlaams Blok on the floor of the Strasbourg chamber.

“There is no issue for democracy here. The Vlaams Blok was found guilty of racism – something which is outlawed in almost all our countries. That is why it was a matter for the courts.”

I can't believe that they actually asked for an opinion from Richard Corbett of all people. This must be standard practice now. Every time someone from UKIP is quoted, they get a response from the uber-europhile. Still I suppose at least it is balanced coverage.

mkpdavies · 16-11-2004, 11:19 AM

So let us get this straight, Corbett has publicaly stated that he believes parties should be banned if they are against a particular section of society. In this case it is a small, irrelvent party who is ignored by most fair minded people, just like our own BNP.

Can we ban the Labour party for being against people who don't want to be part of the EU. He is clearly prejudiced against such people, as are most of his party. How do we start proceedings against this clearly biggoted party?

Democracy is not on the agenda for the EU and it's supporters. Corbetts comments shout this loud and clear. He knows Farage wasn't standing up for the party itself, but the fact democracy MUST allow all views to be heard. People must see his manipulation for what it is, a sinister attempt to remove all opposition to his gravy train agenda.

C_steam · 16-11-2004, 03:41 PM

Yeah, he seems to have become very biased. I think I preferred him when he had his hand up sooty's backside. He certainly talked more sense then.

(

)

Tom Wilde · 16-11-2004, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Democracy is not on the agenda for the EU and it's supporters. Corbetts comments shout this loud and clear. He knows Farage wasn't standing up for the party itself, but the fact democracy MUST allow all views to be heard. People must see his manipulation for what it is, a sinister attempt to remove all opposition to his gravy train agenda.

Nicely put. The distinction is so clear that I'm sure Corbett himself must be aware of it. Corbett's comments show his downright intellectual dishonesty.

Nationalist · 20-11-2004, 09:19 AM

Quote:

In this case it is a small, irrelevant party who is ignored by most fair minded people,

Are you kidding, the Vlaams Blok got over 24% at the last election, they are a threat to the EU way of life which is why they have been banned.

Pointless banning them though, just gives them more sympathy votes and they have already regrouped under the name of Vlaams Belang.

Nice work liberals :roll:

johnwest · 20-11-2004, 10:02 AM

This should be of concern to us all. No one has the right to ban a party because they don't agree with its views. It could happen here before too long. It just proves how fascist the EU is.

Tom Wilde · 21-11-2004, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Pointless banning them though, just gives them more sympathy votes and they have already regrouped under the name of Vlaams Belang.

Just found myself agreeing with nearly the whole of Nationalist's last posting! Somebody gimme a whiskey, quick!

Quote:

Nice work liberals

True liberals would only consider banning a party in the most extreme of situations.

Albion · 24-11-2004, 11:22 AM

It Just Goes To Prove That The EU Wants to Dictate Its Costituent Parties Policies.
That Is Wrong And Sums Up The EU's Ethics On Fairness.

10-11-2004, 09:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	RIP democracy in Belgium. Where is Brussels again? __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

16-11-2004, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	So let us get this straight, Corbett has publicaly stated that he believes parties should be banned if they are against a particular section of society. In this case it is a small, irrelvent party who is ignored by most fair minded people, just like our own BNP. Can we ban the Labour party for being against people who don't want to be part of the EU. He is clearly prejudiced against such people, as are most of his party. How do we start proceedings against this clearly biggoted party? Democracy is not on the agenda for the EU and it's supporters. Corbetts comments shout this loud and clear. He knows Farage wasn't standing up for the party itself, but the fact democracy MUST allow all views to be heard. People must see his manipulation for what it is, a sinister attempt to remove all opposition to his gravy train agenda. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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16-11-2004, 03:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
C_steam Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Paddling up 5hit creek..... Posts: 7,509	Yeah, he seems to have become very biased. I think I preferred him when he had his hand up sooty's backside. He certainly talked more sense then. ( )

20-11-2004, 10:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnwest Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Suffolk Posts: 827 Party: UKIP	This should be of concern to us all. No one has the right to ban a party because they don't agree with its views. It could happen here before too long. It just proves how fascist the EU is.

24-11-2004, 11:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
Albion Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 77	It Just Goes To Prove That The EU Wants to Dictate Its Costituent Parties Policies. That Is Wrong And Sums Up The EU's Ethics On Fairness.