Vooruit (political party)
Onward Vooruit | |
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President | Conner Rousseau |
Founded | 1978 |
Preceded by | Belgian Socialist Party |
Headquarters | Keizerslaan 13, Brussels |
Youth wing | Jongsocialisten |
Membership(2014) | ![]() |
Ideology | Social democracy[3] |
Political position | Centre-left[4] |
European affiliation | Party of European Socialists |
European Parliament group | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
International affiliation | Progressive Alliance |
Francophone counterpart | Socialist Party |
Colours | Red |
Chamber of Representatives | 13 / 87 (Flemish seats) |
Senate | 4 / 35 (Flemish seats) |
Flemish Parliament | 13 / 124 |
Brussels Parliament | 3 / 17 (Flemish seats) |
European Parliament | 2 / 12 (Flemish seats) |
Flemish Provincial Councils | 18 / 175 |
Website | |
vooruit | |
Formerly Socialist Party Socialistische Partij (1978–2001) Socialist Party Differently Socialistische Partij Anders (2001–2021) |
Vooruit(DutchforOnward,pronounced[voːrˈœyt] ) is aFlemishsocial democraticpolitical party in Belgium.[5][6][7][8]It was known as the (Flemish) Socialist Party[9][10][11](1978–2001:Socialistische Partij,SP;2001–2021:Socialistische Partij Anders,[a]SP.A) until 21 March 2021, when its current name was adopted.[12]
The party was founded following the linguistic split of the unitaryBelgian Socialist Partyin 1978, which also produced the FrancophoneSocialist Party.The Belgian Socialist Party itself consisted of former members of theBelgian Labour Party.From December 2011 to September 2014, the party was part of theDi Rupo Government,along with its Francophone counterpart. In 2020, it re-entered federal government as part of theDe Croo Government.The party has been a part of theFlemish Governmentseveral times.
History
[edit]1885–1940
[edit]1940–1978
[edit]Since 1978
[edit]![]() | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(June 2010) |
Part ofa serieson |
Social democracy |
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The party was the big winner in the 2003 election, running on theSP.A–Spiritjoint list (cartel) with thesocial-liberalpartySpirit.Their share of the vote went up from 9% (of the total Belgian vote) to almost 15%, a second place in the number of votes. The main victim of this resurgence was theGreen!party (formerly known asAgalev). SP.A was part of the "purple"federal coalitions of Prime MinisterGuy Verhofstadtfrom 12 July 1999 until 10 June 2007, which contained both the Flemish and Francophone liberal and social-democratic parties.
In 2004, the SP.A along with its partner Spirit lost the elections for theFlemish Parliament.Although they won more seats in comparison to the Flemish elections of 1999, their percentage of the vote compared to the successful 2003 federal elections was considerably down. The reputation of then party leaderSteve Stevaerttook a beating too.
The party was briefly led byCaroline Gennez,after former presidentSteve Stevaertleft to become governor ofLimburg.Johan Vande Lanotte,who served as Minister of the Budget in the federal Government, was elected President and resigned as minister to become President on 17 October 2005. He resigned 11 June 2007, after SP.A–Spirit lost theelections for the federal parliamentof 10 June 2007.[13]In thesefederal elections,the cartel won 14 out of 150 seats in theChamber of Representativesand 4 out of 40 seats in theSenate.Afterwards, Caroline Gennez was elected President by the party members.
As of May 2009, SP.A was in opposition in federal politics. Unlike its Francophone counterpart, theSocialist Party(PS), SP.A was not a participant in theLeterme II Government.
In January 2009, the party had apparently changed its name to Socialists and Progressive Differently (Dutch:Socialisten en Progressieven Anders). This name change was retracted and the party baseline was changed from Social Progressive Alternative (Dutch:Sociaal Progressief Alternatief) to Socialists and Progressive Differently (Dutch:Socialisten en Progressieven Anders).[14]
In the2010 federal election,SP.A won 13 seats with 9% of the overall vote. The party was a member of theDi Rupo Governmentformed on 6 December 2011, until the elections in 2014. In the elections for the Chamber of Representatives on 25 May 2014, SP.A scored again 9% and received 13 seats, in contrast to their francophone Socialist Party counterparts, who lost 3 seats and whose share of the vote decreased by 2%. In theFlemish Parliament,SP.A have 18 representatives, deriving from around 14% of the vote—this is a small reduction on the 2009 parliament, where SP.A had 19 seats, deriving from 15% of the popular vote. From 2009–2014, SP.A participated in theFlemish Government,in an uneasy coalition with the CD & V and the N-VA. From 2014 onwards, SP.A formed part of the opposition in Flanders, as the regional government reflected the Flemish component of the federal administration, consisting of coalition of the Open-VLD, CD & V and the N-VA.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Vooruit%2C_Back_to_the_Climate_2021.jpg/220px-Vooruit%2C_Back_to_the_Climate_2021.jpg)
In January 2018, the party advocated for a "new socialism" and a "new equality".[15][16]In September 2020, party leader Conner Rousseau announced a renaming of the party toVooruit( "Forward" ).[17]The new name was made official on 21 March 2021.
Political views
[edit]Vooruit is a Flemishsocial-democraticparty.Equal opportunitiesandsolidarityare central to the party. The party strives to ensure that those who earn the most or own the greatest wealth also pay the highest taxes so that the government can meet the needs of people who are less fortunate. Vooruit focuses on protecting thepurchasing powerof ordinary citizens. It opposes cuts insocial securityand advocates investment, especially ineducationandhealth care.[18]
Presidents
[edit]Presidents of the SP[19] | |||||||||
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Period | President | ||||||||
1978–1989 | Karel Van Miert | ||||||||
1989–1994 | Frank Vandenbroucke | ||||||||
1994–1998 | Louis Tobback | ||||||||
1998–1999 | Fred Erdman | ||||||||
1999–2001 | Patrick Janssens |
Presidents of Vooruit[19] | |||||||||
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Period | President | Vice-President | |||||||
2001–2003 | Patrick Janssens | ||||||||
2003–2005 | Steve Stevaert | Caroline Gennez | |||||||
2005 | Caroline Gennez(ad interim) | N/A | |||||||
2005–2007 | Johan Vande Lanotte | Caroline Gennez | |||||||
2007–2011 | Caroline Gennez | Dirk Van der Maelen | |||||||
2011–2015 | Bruno Tobback | Joke Quintens | |||||||
2015–2019 | John Crombez | Stephanie Van Houtven | |||||||
2019–2023 | Conner Rousseau | Funda Oru | |||||||
2023–present | Melissa Depraetere(ad interim) | Funda Oru |
Members holding notable public offices
[edit]European politics
[edit]European Parliament | |
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Name | Committees |
Kathleen Van Brempt | International Trade |
Federal politics
[edit]Chamber of Representatives | |||
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Name | Notes | Name | Notes |
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Faction leader | ![]() |
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Senate | ||
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Type | Name | Notes |
Co-opted Senator | ![]() |
Faction leader |
Community Senator | ![]() |
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Community Senator | ![]() |
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Community Senator | ![]() |
Belgian FederalDe Croo Government | ||
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Public Office | Name | Function |
Deputy Prime Minister | Frank Vandenbroucke | Social Affairs and Public Health |
Minister | Meryame Kitir | Development Cooperationand Urban Policy |
Regional politics
[edit]Flemish Parliament | |||||
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Name | Notes | Name | Notes | ||
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Fraction Leader | ![]() |
Party President | ||
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Community Senator | ![]() |
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Community Senator | ![]() |
Mayor ofBredene | ||
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Community Senator | |||
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Mayor ofWellen | |||
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Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region | |||
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Name | Notes | ||
Fouad Ahidar | |||
Els Rochette | |||
Hilde Sabbe |
Brussels Regional GovernmentVervoort II | ||
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Public Office | Name | Function |
Minister | Pascal Smet | Urbanism, European and International Affairs, Foreign Trade, Fire Fighting and Emergency Medical Assistance |
Provincial politics
[edit]ProvincialCouncil | ||
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Province | Percentage | Seats |
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12,80% | 10 / 72
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20,10%° | 13 / 63
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12,70% | 9 / 72
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12,10% | 8 / 72
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15,80% | 12 / 72
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° In Limburg, SP.A formed a cartel withGroen.
Election results
[edit]Chamber of Representatives
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Kamer-1978-2014.png/300px-Kamer-1978-2014.png)
Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
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1978 | 684,976 | 12.4 | 26 / 212
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Coalition | |
1981 | 744,593 | 12.4 | 26 / 212
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Opposition | |
1985 | 882,200 | 14.6 | 32 / 212
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Opposition |
1987 | 915,432 | 14.9 | 32 / 212
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Coalition |
1991 | 737,976 | 12.0 | 28 / 212
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Coalition |
1995 | 762,444 | 12.6 | 20 / 150
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Coalition |
1999 | 593,372 | 9.5 | 14 / 150
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Coalition |
2003* | 979,750 | 14.9 | 23 / 150
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Coalition |
2007 | 684,390 | 10.3 | 14 / 150
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Opposition |
2010 | 602,867 | 9.2 | 13 / 150
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Coalition |
2014 | 595,190 | 8.8 | 13 / 150
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Opposition |
2019 | 455,034 | 6.7 | 9 / 150
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External support(2020) |
Coalition(2020-) | |||||
2024 | 566,436 | 8.1 | 13 / 150
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TBA |
Senate
[edit]Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
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1978 | 678,776 | 12.4 | 13 / 106
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1981 | 732,126 | 12.3 | 13 / 106
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1985 | 868,624 | 14.5 | 16 / 106
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1987 | 896,294 | 14.7 | 17 / 106
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1991 | 730,274 | 11.9 | 14 / 106
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1995 | 792,941 | 13.2 | 6 / 40
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1999 | 550,657 | 8.9 | 4 / 40
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2003[b] | 1,013,560 | 15.5 | 7 / 40
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2007 | 665,342 | 10.0 | 4 / 40
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2010 | 613,079 | 9.5 | 4 / 40
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Regional
[edit]Brussels Parliament
[edit]Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government | |
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D.E.C. | Overall | |||||
1995 | 11,710 | 2.7 (#9) | 2 / 75
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Coalition | ||
1995 | 9,987 | 2.4 (#9) | 2 / 75
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Coalition | |
1999[c] | 13,223 | 21.8 (#4) | 3.1 (#8) | 2 / 75
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Coalition |
2004[b] | 11,052 | 17.7 (#3) | 2.4 (#8) | 3 / 89
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Coalition |
2009 | 10,085 | 19.5 (#2) | 2.2 (#6) | 4 / 89
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Opposition |
2014 | 10,450 | 19.5 (#2) | 2.3 (#8) | 3 / 89
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Coalition |
2019 | 10,540 | 15.1 (#3) | 2.3 (#10) | 3 / 89
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Coalition |
Flemish Parliament
[edit]Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
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1995 | 733,703 | 19.4 (#3) | 25 / 124
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Coalition | |
1999 | 582,419 | 15.0 (#4) | 19 / 124
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Coalition |
2004[d] | 799,325 | 19.7 (#4) | 22 / 124
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Coalition |
2009 | 627,852 | 15.3 (#3) | 19 / 124
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Coalition |
2014 | 587,903 | 14.0 (#4) | 18 / 124
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Opposition |
2019 | 429,631 | 10.1 (#5) | 12 / 124
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Opposition |
European Parliament
[edit]Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | EP Group | |
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D.E.C. | Overall | ||||||
1979 | Karel Van Miert | 698,889 | 20.90 (#2) | 12.84 | 3 / 24
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New | SOC |
1984 | 979,702 | 28.13 (#2) | 17.12 | 4 / 24
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1989 | Marc Galle | 733,242 | 20.04 (#2) | 12.43 | 3 / 24
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1994 | Freddy Willockx | 651,371 | 17.63 (#3) | 10.92 | 3 / 25
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PES |
1999 | Frank Vandenbroucke | 550,237 | 14.21 (#4) | 8.89 | 2 / 25
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2004[e] | Mia De Vits | 716,317 | 17.83 (#3) | 11.04 | 3 / 24
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2009 | Kathleen Van Brempt | 539,393 | 13.23 (#4) | 8.21 | 2 / 22
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S&D |
2014 | 555,354 | 13.18 (#4) | 8.30 | 1 / 21
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2019 | 434,002 | 10.21 (#6) | 6.45 | 1 / 21
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2024 | Bruno Tobback | 570,067 | 12.64 (#4) | 8.47 | 2 / 22
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Symbols
[edit]-
2001–2010
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2010–2018
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2018–2021
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2021–
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Open VLD heeft de meeste leden en steekt CD&V voorbij".deredactie.be. 30 October 2014.
- ^"Open Vld telt meeste leden".De Morgen. 30 October 2014.
- ^Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019)."Flanders/Belgium".Parties and Elections in Europe.Retrieved30 May2019.
- ^Josep M. Colomer(2008).Comparative European Politics.Taylor & Francis. p. 220.ISBN978-0-203-94609-1.
- ^Hans Slomp (2011).Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics.ABC-CLIO. p. 465.ISBN978-0-313-39182-8.
- ^Dimitri Almeida (2012).The Impact of European Integration on Political Parties: Beyond the Permissive Consensus.CRC Press. p. 71.ISBN978-1-136-34039-0.
- ^Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko; Matti Mälkiä (2007).Encyclopedia of Digital Government.Idea Group Inc (IGI). p. 397.ISBN978-1-59140-790-4.
- ^Cas Mudde; Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser (2012).Populism in Europe and the Americas: Threat Or Corrective for Democracy?.Cambridge University Press. p. 27.ISBN978-1-107-02385-7.
- ^"sp.a - the Flemish Socialist Party".sp.a.Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2009.Retrieved4 January2021.
- ^"Conner Rousseau is the new leader of the Flemish Socialist Party".VRT NWS.8 November 2019.Retrieved4 January2021.
- ^Von der Burchard, Hans (21 May 2018)."Belgian socialist party circulates 'deep fake' Donald Trump video".Politico.Retrieved4 January2021.
- ^Torbeyns, Anouck (21 March 2021)."SP.A is officieel Vooruit: 'Definitief afstand van de stilstand'".De Standaard(in Dutch).Retrieved21 March2021.
- ^"Vande Lanotte gooit handdoek in de ring"(in Dutch). VRT. 11 June 2007.Retrieved12 June2007.
- ^Naam van sp.a verandert niet, begeleidende slogan welArchived20 January 2009 at theWayback Machine( "Sp.a name doesn't change, baseline does" ),GvA,17 January 2009
- ^"Le sp.a pour un" nouveau socialisme "et de" nouvelles égalités "(in French). RTBF. 21 January 2018.Retrieved16 May2020.
- ^"Le sp.a pour un" nouveau socialisme ".Le Vif/L'Express(in French). 21 January 2018.Retrieved16 May2020.
- ^Arnoudt, Rik (9 September 2020)."SP.A verandert binnenkort van naam en gaat" Vooruit "heten".VRT NWS(in Dutch).Retrieved4 January2021.
- ^"Waar staat Vooruit voor?"(in Dutch). VRT NWS. 15 April 2024.
- ^ab"sp.a partijvoorzitters".Tijdslijn.s-p-a.be. Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2009.Retrieved19 June2010.
Further reading
[edit]- Johan Vande Lanotte (2010),Vlugschrift – over welvaart en geluk,(retrievable on the website sp.a-ledenbeheer[permanent dead link]), 96 p.,ISBN978-90-486-0629-0.
- Patrick Vander Weyden, Koen Abts (2010),De basis spreekt— onderzoek naar de leden, mandatarissen en kiezers van sp.a (research on members sp.a byGhent University), Acco (Leuven/Den Haag), 239 p.,ISBN978-90-334-7571-9.
External links
[edit]Media related toVooruit (party)at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website(Dutch)