Groen (political party)
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Green Groen | |
---|---|
President | Nadia Najiand Jeremie Vaneeckhout |
Founded | 1979 |
Headquarters | Van Orleystraat 5-11, 1000 Brussel, Belgium |
Youth wing | Young Green |
Membership(2018) | 10,000[1] |
Ideology | Green politics[2] Pacifism Progressivism |
Political position | Centre-left |
Regional affiliation | Socialists, Greens and Democrats[3] |
European affiliation | European Green Party |
European Parliament group | The Greens–European Free Alliance |
International affiliation | Global Greens |
Francophone counterpart | Ecolo |
Colours | Teal |
Chamber of Representatives | 6 / 87 (Flemish seats) |
Senate | 4 / 35 (Flemish seats) |
Flemish Parliament | 14 / 124 |
Brussels Parliament | 4 / 17 (Flemish seats) |
European Parliament | 1 / 12 (Flemish seats) |
Flemish Provincial Councils | 21 / 175 |
Mayors | 1 / 300 |
Website | |
www.groen.be | |
Part ofa serieson |
Green politics |
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Groen(lit. 'Green',[ɣruːn] ), founded asAgalev,is agreen[2][4]Flemishpolitical party in Belgium.The main pillars of the party are social justice, human rights, and ecologism.[5]Its French-speaking equivalent isEcolo;the two parties maintain close relations with each other.
History
[edit]Agalev
[edit]In 1979, the green party was founded by name of "Agalev", an acronym of "AndersGaanLeven "("Towards Different Living").[6]During the eighties, the party was known for beingagainst nuclear weapons,and for being pro-Europe.[5][7]
In 1992 Agalev was asked to support a constitutional change called theSint-Michiels agreement,which would make Belgium a federation. This change required a two-third majority, so the majority needed to convince some parties of the opposition to proceed. Both Agalev andEcoloagreed, in exchange for a tax on bottles, the firstecotaxin Belgium. However, after the constitutional change was voted in, the ecotax was cancelled and replaced by a watered-down concept.[8][9]
In theelections of 1999,Agalev scored 7% federally and 11% regionally (in Flanders). TheDioxin affair,a scandal surroundingdioxinein for-consumption chickens just before the elections, played an important role in the Greens' performance.[10]The Greens joined the firstVerhofstadt governmentas part of the "purple-green "federal coalition from 12 July 1999 until 18 May 2003. Representing Agalev in this federal government,Magda Aelvoetwas Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Public Health and the Environment. She tabled legislation ongay marriage,making Belgium the second country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.[11] Within the same legislature, Magda Aelvoet left her position due to her opposition of a Belgian arms delivery to Nepal, and was succeeded by fellow party memberJef Tavernier.[12]
Also following theelections of 1999,the party joined theFlemish Government,which was composed of the same parties. Agalev supplied two ministers:Mieke Vogelsbecame responsible for Wellbeing, Health and Equal opportunities, andVera Duafor Agriculture and Environment.
Renaming to Groen! (2003)
[edit]In the federal elections of 2003, Agalev scored less than 5% and lost all their seats (on the federal level). The next day,Jos Geyselsresigned as party leader.[13][14]The sitting ministers in the Flemish government Mieke Vogels and Vera Dua stepped down, and were replaced byAdelheid Byttebier andLudo Sannen respectively.
Vera Duagot elected as chairperson, and on the same day, the party's name was changed to Groen! (Green!).[15]The party got between 5 and 10% of the votes through the elections of the early 00's. They did not participate in a governmental coalition (on any level higher than local).
Groen (2012 - current)
[edit]In 2012 the party decided to drop de exclamation mark of their name.
After the local and provincial elections of 2014, Groen had a mandate for the first time in the province ofFlemish-Brabant.In 2018 the province ofEast-Flandersfollowed. The results in Flemish-Brabant had improved though Green wasn't part of the coalition anymore after these elections.
In 2019, there were elections on the regional, federal and European level. At this time theschool strike for climatemovement had dominated the media, so the party Groen was expected to grow substantially. An total victory didn't happen, though the party gained seats on all levels.[16]
On the regional level ofBrussels-Capital,Groen participated in ared-green-bluecoalition.[17]Elke Van den Brandtbecame Minister of Mobility, Public Works, and Road Safety.[18]
On the federal level, a new government wasn't formed until 17 March 2020, when thecoronavirus outbreakurged a minority government with extra plenary powers to be formed. After 6 months a 'regular' majority government was formed and theVivaldi coalitionwas sworn in with 2 Groen ministers.[19]Petra De Sutterbecame Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service, Public Enterprises, Telecommunication and Postal Services, as Europe's first transgender deputy prime minister.[20]Tinne Van der Straetenholds the Ministry of Energy.[21]
In 2012 the members of Groen elected new party leaders: the duoNadia NajiandJeremie Vaneeckhout,and the logo changed from green only to a more colourful background.[22]
Political views
[edit]Groen is aprogressiveFlemish party that, as the name itself suggests, considersenvironmentalandclimate policyvery important. The party wants to combine this with attention tosocial justice,equal opportunities,human rightsandquality of life.In other words, the party wants to protect the planet, but wants to do so by paying attention to the weakest in society. The party therefore wants good and affordablehealth careand to tacklepoverty.In order to afford these initiatives, the party expect the richest people and the biggest polluters in society to contribute more.[5]
Party chairperson
[edit]Name | From | Until | Vice-chairperson | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leo Cox | 28 March 1982 | 7 January 1989 | not applicable | Spokesperson[23] |
2 | Johan Malcorps | 7 January 1989 | 6 June 1995 | not applicable | Spokesperson[23] |
3 | Wilfried Bervoets | 6 June 1995 | 24 July 1998 | not applicable | Spokesperson.[23]Passed away in function.[24]During his illness, Jos Geysels was acting spokesperson. |
4 | Jos Geysels | 8 June 1998 | 21 June 2003 | not applicable | Spokesperson[23] |
5 | Dirk Holemans | 21 June 2003 | 15 November 2003 | not applicable | Spokesperson[23] |
6 | Vera Dua | 15 November 2003 | 10 November 2007 | not applicable[23] | |
7 | Mieke Vogels | 10 November 2007[25] | 25 October 2009 | Wouter Van Besien(from 17 May 2008) | |
8 | Wouter Van Besien | 25 October 2009[26] | 15 November 2014 | Björn Rzoska(until 19 January 2013) Elke Van den Brandt(from 19 January 2013) |
|
9 | Meyrem Almaci | 15 November 2014[27] | 11 June 2022[28] | Jeremie Vaneeckhout(until 19 October 2019) Dany Neudt(from 19 October 2019) |
Re-elected |
10 | Jeremie VaneeckhoutandNadia Naji | 11 June 2022[29] | Incumbent | not applicable |
Current mandates
[edit]European politics
[edit]European Parliament[30] | |
---|---|
Name | Committees |
Sara Matthieu | International Trade Employment and Social Affairs |
Federal politics
[edit]Chamber of Representatives[31] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name | Notes | ||
Wouter De Vriendt | Faction leader | ||
Kim Buyst | |||
Kristof Calvo | |||
Barbara Cremers | |||
Eva Platteau | |||
Dieter Van Besien | |||
Stefaan Van Hecke | |||
Kathleen Pisman |
Senate[32] | ||
---|---|---|
Type | Name | Notes |
Co-opted Senator | Fourat Ben Chikha | Second vice president of the Senate |
Community Senator | Stijn Bex | |
Community Senator | Soetkin Hoessen | |
Community Senator | Chris Steenwegen |
Belgian FederalDe Croo Government[33] | ||
---|---|---|
Public Office | Name | Function |
Deputy Prime Minister | Petra De Sutter | Minister of Civil Service, Public Enterprises, Telecommunication and Postal Services |
Minister | Tinne Van der Straeten | Minister of Energy |
Regional politics: Flanders
[edit]Flemish Parliament[34] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Meyrem Almaci | Imade Annouri | Stijn Bex | |
Johan Danen | Ann De Martelaer | Celia Groothedde | |
Elisabeth Meuleman | Ann Moerenhout | Staf Aerts | |
Bjorn Rzoska | Mieke Schauvliege | Chris Steenwegen | |
Tine van den Brande | Jeremie Vaneeckhout |
Regional politics: Brussels
[edit]Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region[35] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name | Notes | ||
Juan Benjumea Moreno | |||
Lotte Stoops | |||
Soetkin Hoessen | |||
Arnaud Verstraete | Faction Leader |
Brussels Regional GovernmentVervoort II[36] | ||
---|---|---|
Public Office | Name | Function |
Minister | Elke Van den Brandt | Mobility and Public Works |
Election results
[edit]Chamber of Representatives
[edit]Senate
[edit]Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/− |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | 3,270 | 0.1 | 0 / 106
|
|
1978 | 0 / 106
|
|||
1981 | 121,016 | 2.0 | 1 / 106
|
1 |
1985 | 229,206 | 3.8 | 2 / 106
|
1 |
1987 | 299,049 | 4.9 | 3 / 105
|
1 |
1991 | 314,360 | 5.1 | 5 / 70
|
2 |
1995 | 223,355 | 3.7 | 1 / 40
|
4 |
1999 | 438,931 | 7.1 | 3 / 40
|
2 |
2003 | 161,024 | 2.5 | 0 / 40
|
3 |
2007 | 241,151 | 3.6 | 1 / 40
|
1 |
2010 | 251,605 | 3.9 | 1 / 40
|
0 |
Regional: Brussels
[edit]Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | Government | Elected Members of parliament | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D.E.C. | Overall | ||||||
1989 | 4,821 | 1.1 (#12) | 1 / 75
|
Opposition | Dolf Cauwelier | ||
1995 | 3,906 | 1.0 (#11) | 0 / 75
|
1 | Opposition | ||
1999[a] | 13,223 | 21.8 (#4) | 3.1 (#8) | 0 / 75
|
0 | Opposition | Adelheid Byttebier(until 6 June 2003; replaced Mieke Vogels as Flemish minister)→Anne Van Asbroeck(SP.A) |
2004 | 6,132 | 9.8 (#5) | 1.4 (#10) | 1 / 89
|
1 | Opposition | Adelheid Byttebier |
2009 | 5,806 | 11.2 (#5) | 1.3 (#10) | 2 / 89
|
1 | Coalition | Bruno De Lille(became Brussels-Capital Region state secretary)→Elke Van den Brandt,Annemie Maes |
2014 | 9,551 | 17.9 (#5) | 2.1 (#9) | 3 / 89
|
1 | Opposition | Bruno De Lille,Annemie Maes,Arnaud Verstraete |
2019 | 14,425 | 20.6 (#1) | 3.1 (#7) | 4 / 89
|
1 | Coalition | Elke Van den Brandt(became minister )→Soetkin Hoessen,Arnaud Verstraete,Lotte Stoops,Juan Benjumea Moreno |
2024 | 18,345 | 22.82 (#1) | 4 / 89
|
0 | TBD |
Regional: Flemish Parliament
[edit]European Parliament
[edit]Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | EP Group | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D.E.C. | Overall | ||||||
1979 | Paul Staes | 77,986 | 2.33 (#5) | 1.43 | 0 / 24
|
New | − |
1984 | 246,712 | 7.08 (#5) | 4.31 | 1 / 24
|
1 | RBW | |
1989 | 446,539 | 12.20 (#4) | 7.57 | 1 / 24
|
0 | G | |
1994 | Magda Aelvoet | 396,198 | 10.73 (#5) | 6.64 | 1 / 25
|
0 | |
1999 | Patsy Sörensen | 464,042 | 11.98 (#6) | 7.50 | 2 / 25
|
1 | Greens/EFA |
2004 | Bart Staes | 320,874 | 7.99 (#5) | 4.94 | 1 / 24
|
1 | |
2009 | 322,149 | 7.90 (#6) | 4.90 | 1 / 22
|
0 | ||
2014 | 447,391 | 10.62 (#5) | 6.69 | 1 / 21
|
0 | ||
2019 | Petra De Sutter | 525,908 | 12.37 (#5) | 7.81 | 1 / 21
|
0 | |
2024 | Sara Matthieu | 450,781 | 10.00 (#5) | 6.31 | 1 / 21
|
0 |
See also
[edit]- EcolotheWalloon(Francophone) green party
- Green party
- Green politics
- List of environmental organizations
- European Green Party
- Global Greens
References
[edit]- ^"Open VLD heeft de meeste leden en steekt CD&V voorbij".deredactie.be. 30 October 2014.
- ^abNordsieck, Wolfram (2019)."Flanders/Belgium".Parties and Elections in Europe.Retrieved2019-05-30.
- ^"Politieke fracties".Benelux Parliament(in Dutch).Retrieved8 August2023.
- ^Bale, Tim (2021).Riding the populist wave: Europe's mainstream right in crisis.Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 36.ISBN978-1-009-00686-6.OCLC1256593260.
- ^abc"Elections 24: what do the Flemish ecologists of Groen stand for?".vrtnws.be.2024-04-28.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"Integraal verslag van de plenaire vergadering op donderdag 29 okt 2015"(PDF)(in Dutch and French). Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers. 2015-10-29. Rouwhulde Wilfried Van Durme (één van de oprichters van Agalev).
- ^"Belgium || Bomspotting. 2,000 Protest Against Nuclear Weapons".International Socialist Alternative.2002-10-07.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"Groen".Encyclopedie Vlaamse Beweging(in Dutch).Retrieved1 July2024.
- ^"Misnoegde brief van de bever aan De Wever"[displeased letter of the beaver to De Wever].MO* Magazine(in Dutch).Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Het falen van Agalev bij de verkiezingen van 18 mei 2003"[Agalevs failure in the 18 May 2003 elections].www.sampol.be(in Dutch).Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Belgium celebrates 20 years of same-sex marriage".The Brussels Times.Retrieved1 July2024.
- ^"Belgium arms sale row deepens".BBC.27 Aug 2002.Retrieved19 June2024.
- ^"Jos Geysels neemt ontslag als politiek secretaris Agalev"[Jos Geysels resigns as Agalev political secretary].De Standaard(in Dutch). 19 May 2003.Retrieved19 June2024.
- ^"Waar staat Groen voor?"[What does Groen stand for?] (in Dutch). VRT NWS. 2024-04-15.
- ^"De terugkeer van Groen!"[The comeback of Groen!].Sampol(in Dutch).Retrieved1 July2024.
- ^"Groen boekt winst, maar grote sprong vooruit blijft uit"[Groen makes progress, but falls short of big victory].VRT NWS(in Dutch). 2019-05-26.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"Akkoord voor Brusselse regering is rond: mét Open VLD, zonder MR".VRT NWS(in Dutch). 2019-07-17.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"De onopvallende minister-president, de brouwer en de vrouw achter paars-groen: dit is de nieuwe Brusselse regering"[The unremarkable minister-president, the brewer and the woman behind purple-green: this is the new Brussels government].vrtnws.be(in Dutch). 2019-07-18.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"Why did it take so long to form Belgium's new 'Vivaldi' coalition?".euronews.2020-10-07.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Green MEP Petra De Sutter to be named deputy Belgian PM".POLITICO.2020-10-01.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Wie is Tinne Van der Straeten, de nieuwe minister van Energie?"[Who is Tinne Van der Straeten, the new minister of Energy?].Bruzz(in Dutch).Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Groen heeft nieuw voorzittersduo: Jeremie Vaneeckhout en Nadia Naji halen het in de eerste stemronde"[Groen has two new chairpeople: Jeremie Vaneeckhout and Nadia Naji succeed in one voting round].vrtnws.be(in Dutch). 2022-06-11.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^abcdef"Van Agalev over Groen! naar Groen zonder meer"[From Agalev to Groen! to downright Groen].VRT NWS(in Dutch). 2014-03-10.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Le décès de Wilfried Bervoets endeuille les Verts".Le Soir(in French). 1998-07-27.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Mieke Vogels volgt Vera Dua op als voorzitster Groen!"[Mieke Vogels succeeds Vera Dua as chairperson Groen!].Het Nieuwsblad(in Dutch). 2007-11-10.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"Wouter Van Besien verkozen als nieuwe voorzitter van Groen!"[Wouter Van Besien elected as new chairperson Groen!].Het Nieuwsblad(in Dutch). 2009-10-25.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^"Meyrem Almaci verkozen tot voorzitter van Groen".VRT NWS(in Dutch). 2014-11-15.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Meyrem Almaci stopt als voorzitter van Groen:" Het is nu aan andere mensen, dat zal Groen deugd doen ""[Meyrem Almaci quits as president of Groen: "Up to other people now, which will benefit Groen" ].VRT NWS.2022.Retrieved2022-03-23.
- ^"Groen heeft nieuw voorzittersduo: Jeremie Vaneeckhout en Nadia Naji halen het in de eerste stemronde"[Groen has new presidential duo: Jeremie Vaneeckhout and Nadia Naji win already in first round of elections].vrtnws.2022-06-11.Retrieved2022-06-11.
- ^"Full list of MEPs".European Parliament (official website).Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Kamerleden | Zittingsperiode 55"[Members of the Chamber | Legislation period 55].De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigersa.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Lijst van de senatoren"[List of senators].Belgische Senaat.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Composition of the Belgian federal government".belgium.be.Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Volksvertegenwoordigers"[Representatives].Vlaams Parlement(in Dutch).Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"Volksvertegenwoordigers"[Representatives].Parlement Bruxellois Brussels Parlement(in Dutch).Retrieved2024-07-01.
- ^"The Government of the Region".Brussels-Capital Region.Retrieved2024-07-01.
External links
[edit]Media related toGroen (party)at Wikimedia Commons