According to police, some 1,500 Vlaams Belang supporters have assembled in Brussels for a protest gathering. The party feels that lawmakers in Brussels pay too little attention to the people. Almost 3,000 sympathizers were present, according to chairman Tom Van Grieken. At around the same time, a counter-demonstration of around 500 people marched through the streets of Brussels, not far from the gathering, to warn of the growth of the extreme right.
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| Vlaams Belang protest rally in Brussels |
The Vlaams Belang conference was held outside the Central Station on the Albertinaplein in Brussels. The meeting was the culmination of a 10-day campaign in which chairman Tom Van Grieken walked from Ostend to Brussels with the central message: "Make them listen," a sneer at the politicians in Brussels' Wetstraat who, according to the party, "pay too little attention to the people in the Volksstraat."
The supporters were addressed not only by the party chairman, but also by group leaders Barbara Pas (Chamber) and Chris Janssens (Flemish Parliament). According to Van Grieken, almost 3,000 people attended the conference; the police estimate that 1,500 people attended.
Van Grieken reflected on his ten-day walking tour during his address, saying, "Wherever I went, I could always observe the same thing: very many Flemish people are angry." They are dissatisfied. They have been betrayed. Above all, they do not believe they are heard by the political elite."
The party chairman also made some specific demands: he wants the number of members of parliament and party allocations to be cut in half, he wants to save money on asylum and migration, and he wants better order and security. Finally, Vlaams Belang desires less Belgium and greater buying power.
The counter-demonstration, organized by labor unions, peace organizations, and anti-fascist organizations, drew about 500 people. Demonstrators came to Brussels' streets to warn against the emergence of the radical right.
The counter-demonstration was dismantled at Ursuline Street skate park, just a few minutes' walk from Albertina Square, where the Vlaams Belang party leaders were making a speech at the moment. Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken is perplexed that the city of Brussels has decided to terminate the counter-demonstration so close to his conference.
Despite the fact that the counter-demonstration's organizers had asked for peaceful protests, the Vlaams Belang chairman was concerned about occurrences. "Everyone has the right to protest, but it is extremely dangerous to do so." "There are figures in the demonstration who are clearly out for violence," Van Greeks added, referring to several masked counter-demonstrators.