A New Wall Goes Up in Belgium

"Exactly 15 years after the Berlin Wall came down and the people of East Germany and eastern Europe regained their freedom, it was confirmed today that in the Belgian state, democracy and freedom of speech are under threat."

-Frank Vanhecke, leader of the Belgian political party Vlaams Blok

The ban one of Belgium's most popular political parties, the Vlaams Blok, was upheld by the Belgian Supreme Court today. The ruling held that Vlaams Blok was guilty of violating anti-racism and anti-discrimination laws.

Vlaams Blok is a right-wing party that won 24% of the vote in Flemish regional elections earlier this year. It advocates secession of Flanders from Belgium, free market economic reforms, and strict immigration policies. Party leader Frank Vanhecke issued a defiant statement today in response to the court's ruling, in which he said.

I thank those who founded our party in 1977 and all who have supported it in the past 27 years. They have fought the good fight. I thank our one million voters. They deserve a democracy. Belgium does not want to grant them one; we will. Today, our party has been killed, not by the electorate but by the judges. We will establish a new party. This one Belgium will not be able to bury; it will bury Belgium.

On a side note...Flemings make up 60% of the Belgian population; 29% are Walloons, and 1% are Germans. The Flemish speak Dutch; the Walloons speak French.