In Belgium, pre-election polls show widening regional disparities among voters in Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. In Flanders, the nationalist and pro-independence party Vlaams Belang leads the polls, while the far-right party Chez Nous struggles in Wallonia and Brussels.
In Flanders, Vlaams Belang seeks to break up the country and establish a Flemish republic with strict immigration controls. The party’s discourse contributes to stigmatizing foreigners and Muslims, appealing to voters concerned about immigration.
Despite its past condemnation, Vlaams Belang has embraced the far-right conspiracy theory of the “Great Replacement” and targets young voters through social media campaigns.
In Wallonia, Chez Nous faces obstacles due to the region’s different priorities, the cordon sanitaire implemented by political parties and media, internal discord within the party, and a weak sense of national identity.
Vlaams Belang holds three out of Belgium’s 21 seats in the European Parliament, and the party may gain a fourth seat in the upcoming elections, reflecting the rise of far-right parties across Europe.
