← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Centinel
Thread ID: 13283 | Posts: 5 | Started: 2004-04-22
2004-04-22 20:46 | User Profile
[url]http://asia.news.yahoo.com/040422/afp/040422172851int.html[/url]
Friday April 23, 1:28 AM
Court in 'racist' blow to Belgian far-righters
BRUSSELS (AFP) - A court ruling branding the far-right Vlaams Blok as racist and slapping fines on key supporters has dealt a hugely damaging blow to one of Europe's top ultra-nationalist forces, experts said.
The Belgian party, part of a far-right surge in Europe in recent years along with France's National Front and Austria's Freedom Party, was condemned by an appeal court in Ghent Wednesday of breaking anti-racism laws.
The court notably ruled that the Flemish Blok regularly portrays foreigners as "criminals who take bread from the mouths of Flemish workers" and found it guilty of "permanent incitement to segregation and racism."
The Blok's charismatic leader Filip Dewinter has led the party to garner 30 percent of votes in his Antwerp fiefdom and 17.9 percent in national elections in May 2003, and is hoping to build on that in June ballots.
Despite its poll success, the Blok has been kept out of national power by a political "cordon sanitaire" of isolation by other mainstream parties in Belgium.
The verdict cannot lead to an immediate ban on the party, because "the Belgian constitution does not allow for a party to be banned," said political analyst Pascal Delwit.
But the populist party, which claims excellent relations with French far-righter Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front and Austria's Joerg Haider, is "undermined to its foundations," he said.
"The Vlaams Blok faces an existential choice: remain an anti-establishment force or become a civilized party," said the Flemish economic daily De Tijd, using the German word "salonfaehig" -- the same term used to described Haider's transformation in Austria from outcast to political acceptance.
Financially, the court slap -- which party leader Dewinter immediately condemned as "political murder" -- risks depriving the Blok of substantial propaganda income.
To avoid financial collapse "the Blok (could) have no other choice than to shut itself down and relaunch with a changed program," added the Flemish-language De Standaard.
Wednesday's court ruling fined three associations linked to the party 12,400 euros (14,880 dollars) each for breaking anti-racism laws, deciding that it was "undeniable that the Vlaams Blok is a grouping that advocates discrimination."
The associations, which notably manage the party's finances, were condemned for relations with a "racist organization" -- a finding which could provoke financial backers to cut their links with it, said De Standaard.
That threat could not come at a worse time: 50 days before June 13 regional elections in which recent polls give it some 22 percent of the vote in Flanders.
In the longer term the party's public funding could be called into question. A draft law current being discussed would strengthen anti-racist legislation and allow authorities to ban financing of parties which violate human rights.
On the political front "the Blok's rhetoric is called into question."
"Its officials say: we are a party which upsets people, which doesn't go along with other political parties, but the Blok is not an anti-democratic party, is not racist, and doesn't promote discrimination or unacceptable values," said analyst Vincent De Coorebyter.
Following the court ruling that claim is "in peril," he said.
2004-05-17 19:55 | User Profile
...and all know it. Sadly it'll be the model after EU's democracy is designed. In Belgium game is controlled by local elite, only elite's own parties are practically allowed, and there are only cosmetic differences in them.
Why it is so? Because funding laws. Parties are funded by state, funding goes in proportion of parliament seats. Private citizens and companies/societies can give maximally 100 Euros each. And that isn't much.
They also played dirty trick against Vlaams Blok. To prohibite an party an Jury-court is needed, and juries consist from ordinary citizens even in Belgium. Elite knew that jury wouldn't condemn Vlaams Blok. So they went against its supporters and associates. It is prohibited by the law in Belgium to support racist entity, and that is handled by ordinary elite appointed court/judge. They gave big fines to every associate of Vlaams Blok.
I really hope that Belgian democracy won't ever pollute Finlands political life, it must be stopped.
2004-05-18 00:29 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Suomi Finland Perkele]...and all know it. Sadly it'll be the model after EU's democracy is designed. In Belgium game is controlled by local elite, only elite's own parties are practically allowed, and there are only cosmetic differences in them.
Why it is so? Because funding laws. Parties are funded by state, funding goes in proportion of parliament seats. Private citizens and companies/societies can give maximally 100 Euros each. And that isn't much.
They also played dirty trick against Vlaams Blok. To prohibite an party an Jury-court is needed, and juries consist from ordinary citizens even in Belgium. Elite knew that jury wouldn't condemn Vlaams Blok. So they went against its supporters and associates. It is prohibited by the law in Belgium to support racist entity, and that is handled by ordinary elite appointed court/judge. They gave big fines to every associate of Vlaams Blok.
I really hope that Belgian democracy won't ever pollute Finlands political life, it must be stopped.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like here in the States. The elites run both the major parties, and the Jew media keeps a media black out on all others. If by chance an outsider gains a modicum of support the Jew media runs a constant campaign of vilification against him until he is destroyed.
2004-05-18 00:37 | User Profile
This is a criminal act of civil war.
2004-05-24 07:34 | User Profile
[QUOTE=darkstar]This is a criminal act of civil war.[/QUOTE]
Ditto.