New name for the Blok?

18 May 2004

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s far-right Flemish party, the Vlaams Blok, will change its name if a recent court ruling that it is legally racist is upheld, the party said on Tuesday.

In an interview with Flemish newspaper ‘Dag Allemal’, Vlaams Blok President Frank Vanhecke said he would consider forming a new party if last month’s ruling by a Gent court is not overturned.

The Blok has already announced it will appeal against the court’s decision.

But if it fails it stands to lose millions of euros in state funding every year.

Racist organisations are not allowed to receive state funds in Belgium.

Vanhecke insisted that any new party would remain true to the Blok’s philosophy of “criticising problems that find their place in the presence of large groups of foreigners.”

Subject: Belgian news