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Groen (lit. 'Green', [ɣruːn] ), founded as Agalev, is a green[2][4] Flemish political party in Belgium. The main pillars of the party are social justice, human rights, and ecologism.[5] Its French-speaking equivalent is Ecolo; the two parties maintain close relations with each other.
Green Groen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President | Nadia Naji and Jeremie Vaneeckhout |
| Founded | 1982 |
| 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 | |
Political views
editGroen is a progressive Flemish party that, as the name itself suggests, considers environmental and climate policy very important. The party wants to combine this with attention to social justice, equal opportunities, human rights and quality 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 affordable health care and to tackle poverty. In order to afford these initiatives, the party expect the richest people and the biggest polluters in society to contribute more.[5]
History
editAgalev
editIn 1979, the green party was founded by name of "Agalev", an acronym of "Anders Gaan Leven" ("Towards Different Living").[6] During the eighties, the party was known for being against nuclear weapons, and for being pro-Europe.[5][7]
In 1992 Agalev was asked to support a constitutional change called the Sint-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 and Ecolo agreed, in exchange for a tax on bottles, the first ecotax in Belgium. However, after the constitutional change was voted in, the ecotax was cancelled and replaced by a watered-down concept.[8][9]
In the elections of 1999, Agalev scored 7% federally and 11% regionally (in Flanders). The Dioxin affair, a scandal surrounding dioxine in for-consumption chickens just before the elections, played an important role in the Greens' performance.[10] The Greens joined the first Verhofstadt government as part of the "purple-green" federal coalition from 12 July 1999 until 18 May 2003. Representing Agalev in this federal government, Magda Aelvoet was Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Public Health and the Environment. She tabled legislation on gay 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 member Jef Tavernier.[12]
Also following the elections of 1999, the party joined the Flemish Government, which was composed of the same parties. Agalev supplied two ministers: Mieke Vogels became responsible for Wellbeing, Health and Equal opportunities, and Vera Dua for Agriculture and Environment.
Renaming to Groen! (2003)
editIn the federal elections of 2003, Agalev scored less than 5% and lost all their seats (on the federal level). The next day, Jos Geysels resigned as party leader.[13][14] The sitting ministers in the Flemish government Mieke Vogels and Vera Dua stepped down, and were replaced by Adelheid Byttebier and Ludo Sannen respectively.
Vera Dua got 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)
editIn 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 of Flemish-Brabant. In 2018 the province of East-Flanders followed. 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 the school strike for climate movement 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 of Brussels-Capital, Groen participated in a red-green-blue coalition.[17] Elke Van den Brandt became Minister of Mobility, Public Works, and Road Safety.[18]
On the federal level, a new government wasn't formed until 17 March 2020, when the coronavirus outbreak urged a minority government with extra plenary powers to be formed. After 6 months a 'regular' majority government was formed and the Vivaldi coalition was sworn in with 2 Groen ministers.[19] Petra De Sutter became 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 Straeten holds the Ministry of Energy.[21]
In 2012 the members of Groen elected new party leaders: the duo Nadia Naji and Jeremie Vaneeckhout, and the logo changed from green only to a more colourful background.[22]
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 Vaneeckhout and Nadia Naji | 11 June 2022[29] | Incumbent | not applicable | |
Current mandates
editEuropean politics
edit| European Parliament[30] | |
|---|---|
| Name | Committees |
| Sara Matthieu | International Trade Employment and Social Affairs |
Federal politics
edit| Chamber of Representatives[31] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notes | ||
| Faction leader | |||
| Senate[32] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Name | Notes |
| Co-opted Senator | Second vice president of the Senate | |
| Community Senator | ||
| Community Senator | ||
| Community Senator | ||
| Belgian Federal De 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] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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 Government Vervoort II[36] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Public Office | Name | Function |
| Minister | Elke Van den Brandt | Mobility and Public Works |
Past electoral results
editChamber of Representatives
editSenate
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 3,270 | 0.1 | 0 / 106
|
|
| 1978 | 0 / 106
|
|||
| 1981 | 121,016 | 2.0 | 1 / 106
|
|
| 1985 | 229,206 | 3.8 | 2 / 106
|
|
| 1987 | 299,049 | 4.9 | 3 / 105
|
|
| 1991 | 314,360 | 5.1 | 5 / 70
|
|
| 1995 | 223,355 | 3.7 | 1 / 40
|
|
| 1999 | 438,931 | 7.1 | 3 / 40
|
|
| 2003 | 161,024 | 2.5 | 0 / 40
|
|
| 2007 | 241,151 | 3.6 | 1 / 40
|
|
| 2010 | 251,605 | 3.9 | 1 / 40
|
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
|
Opposition | |||
| 1999[a] | 13,223 | 21.8 (#4) | 3.1 (#8) | 0 / 75
|
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
|
Opposition | Adelheid Byttebier | |
| 2009 | 5,806 | 11.2 (#5) | 1.3 (#10) | 2 / 89
|
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
|
Opposition | Bruno De Lille, Annemie Maes, Arnaud Verstraete | |
| 2019 | 14,425 | 20.6 (#1) | 3.1 (#7) | 4 / 89
|
Coalition | Elke Van den Brandt (became minister ) → Soetkin Hoessen, Arnaud Verstraete, Lotte Stoops, Juan Benjumea Moreno | |
| 2024 | 18,345 | 22.82 (#1) | 4 / 89
|
TBD | |||
Regional: Flemish Parliament
editEuropean 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
|
RBW | ||
| 1989 | 446,539 | 12.20 (#4) | 7.57 | 1 / 24
|
G | ||
| 1994 | Magda Aelvoet | 396,198 | 10.73 (#5) | 6.64 | 1 / 25
|
||
| 1999 | Patsy Sörensen | 464,042 | 11.98 (#6) | 7.50 | 2 / 25
|
Greens/EFA | |
| 2004 | Bart Staes | 320,874 | 7.99 (#5) | 4.94 | 1 / 24
|
||
| 2009 | 322,149 | 7.90 (#6) | 4.90 | 1 / 22
|
|||
| 2014 | 447,391 | 10.62 (#5) | 6.69 | 1 / 21
|
|||
| 2019 | Petra De Sutter | 525,908 | 12.37 (#5) | 7.81 | 1 / 21
|
||
| 2024 | Sara Matthieu | 450,781 | 10.00 (#5) | 6.31 | 1 / 21
|
||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Open VLD heeft de meeste leden en steekt CD&V voorbij". deredactie.be. 30 October 2014.
- ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Flanders/Belgium". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ^ "Politieke fracties". Benelux Parliament (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Bale, Tim (2021). Riding the populist wave: Europe's mainstream right in crisis. Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-009-00686-6. OCLC 1256593260.
- ^ a b c "Elections 24: what do the Flemish ecologists of Groen stand for?". vrtnws.be. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Groen". Encyclopedie Vlaamse Beweging (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Misnoegde brief van de bever aan De Wever" [displeased letter of the beaver to De Wever]. MO* Magazine (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Het falen van Agalev bij de verkiezingen van 18 mei 2003" [Agalevs failure in the 18 May 2003 elections]. www.sampol.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Belgium celebrates 20 years of same-sex marriage". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Belgium arms sale row deepens". BBC. 27 Aug 2002. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Jos Geysels neemt ontslag als politiek secretaris Agalev" [Jos Geysels resigns as Agalev political secretary]. De Standaard (in Dutch). 19 May 2003. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "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). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Akkoord voor Brusselse regering is rond: mét Open VLD, zonder MR". VRT NWS (in Dutch). 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Why did it take so long to form Belgium's new 'Vivaldi' coalition?". euronews. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Green MEP Petra De Sutter to be named deputy Belgian PM". POLITICO. 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "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). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "Van Agalev over Groen! naar Groen zonder meer" [From Agalev to Groen! to downright Groen]. VRT NWS (in Dutch). 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Le décès de Wilfried Bervoets endeuille les Verts". Le Soir (in French). 1998-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Mieke Vogels volgt Vera Dua op als voorzitster Groen!" [Mieke Vogels succeeds Vera Dua as chairperson Groen!]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Wouter Van Besien verkozen als nieuwe voorzitter van Groen!" [Wouter Van Besien elected as new chairperson Groen!]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Meyrem Almaci verkozen tot voorzitter van Groen". VRT NWS (in Dutch). 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "Full list of MEPs". European Parliament (official website). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Kamerleden | Zittingsperiode 55" [Members of the Chamber | Legislation period 55]. De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigersa. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Lijst van de senatoren" [List of senators]. Belgische Senaat. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Composition of the Belgian federal government". belgium.be. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Volksvertegenwoordigers" [Representatives]. Vlaams Parlement (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Volksvertegenwoordigers" [Representatives]. Parlement Bruxellois Brussels Parlement (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "The Government of the Region". Brussels-Capital Region. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
External links
edit Media related to Groen (party) at Wikimedia Commons