The end of the sanitary cordon: Bart Goris and the PIT join forces with Vlaams Belang for local governance
On October 19, 2024, in an important political turning point in Belgium, Bart Goris, a key figure in the local political landscape, confirmed that the so-called “cordon humaine” against the far-right Vlaams Belang had been broken in Ranst, a commune from the province of Antwerp. After a resounding victory in Ninove, where Vlaams Belang obtained an absolute majority, the party has now entered a second government coalition, raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.
The local political party PIT, led by former liberal mayor Lode Hofmans, decided to form an alliance with Vlaams Belang and the liberal party Vrij Ranst. Goris, who is set to become the next mayor of Ranst, stressed that their collaboration focuses on local governance rather than national politics. He said: “I tried to call the N-VA several times, but they did not answer. » His comments highlight a growing divide in local political ties and the changing dynamics of Belgian governance.
Christel Engelen of Vlaams Belang said she was proud of this development, highlighting the long-standing fracture in the cordon santé that has historically isolated far-right parties in Belgium. In the last elections, the PIT list won nine of the 25 seats in the municipal council, thus overtaking the presence of the N-VA, led by the current mayor Johan De Ryck. Additionally, Vlaams Belang won three seats, while Vrij Ranst also won three.
Goris explained the process of forming a coalition: “Last week we talked with all the other parties in Ranst. With Vrij Ranst, we quickly reached an agreement because our platforms are largely aligned. But we needed a third partner to obtain a majority. There were too many fundamental disagreements with Groen. The N-VA has not shown itself willing to continue negotiations. Vlaams Belang, on the other hand, took a constructive approach which ultimately led to this agreement.”
In response to this political shift, established parties such as Open VLD and CD&V took decisive action by excluding local members who aligned themselves with this new coalition. Open VLD’s Eva De Bleeker and CD&V’s Sammy Mahdi announced that members’ affiliations would be revoked, saying their party’s democratic principles outweigh the importance of securing local political positions.
Ranst is the second municipality where Vlaams Belang will hold power, after Ninove. However, this new alliance is notable because it represents a break in the political cordon santé, unlike in Ninove, where Vlaams Belang will govern independently, without coalition partners. According to political analyst Laura Jacobs, “this is a governance agreement, in which Vlaams Belang acts as a junior partner, with a position of deputy mayor. »
Jacobs pointed out that while some might argue that local parties have not formally signed an agreement to break the sanitary cordon, the association of local parties with Vlaams Belang signals an important change in the political landscape. She noted that Vlaams Belang’s power in Ranst will likely be limited, given its status as a junior company, implying that it could exert less influence in the governance process.
Despite possible restrictions, Vlaams Belang remains optimistic. The party’s leader, Tom Van Grieken, hailed this event as a “historic alliance”, raising hopes of a “domino effect” in local politics similar to the triumph experienced in Ninove, where the success of Guy D’haeseleer inspired a resurgence in far-right participation.
This evolving story reflects the complexities of local governance in Belgium as parties reevaluate their alliances and the implications of working with Vlaams Belang, a party traditionally viewed with skepticism. As the political landscape evolves, the implications for future governance in Belgium will merit careful consideration.
Originally published in The European Times.
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