Bruno Valkeniers was chosen Sunday by 94.6% of the vote to become the new party chairman of the extreme rightwing Vlaams Belang party.

Mr Valkeniers succeeds Frank Vanhecke, who was no longer a candidate after being head of Vlaams Belang for twelve years.

Bruno Valkeniers was the only candidate for party chair. The mandate is for a period of four years.

The new chairman of Vlaams Belang is 52 years old. He was commercial director of a shipping company. In 2006 he went into politics, and has made a fast career in Vlaams Belang. Currently he is in the Antwerp city council and in the Federal Chamber of Deputies.

In recent interviews, Mr Valkeniers stressed that he would continue the current party line of the extreme rightwing party.

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