Vlaams Belang rules out Euro-appeal

7 March 2005

BRUSSELS – The far right Flemish political party Vlaams Belang will not appeal a conviction for racism at the European Court of Human Rights.

The party said it did not believe it would win the appeal if it took it to the human rights court, based in Strasbourg, France.

Belgium’s highest court condemned the party – then known as the Vlaams Blok – for racism on 9 November last year.

The party reacted by changing its name to Vlaams Belang.

The ruling did not force the party to disband and allowed it to continue under a new name, prompting a widespread public petition against the newly formed Vlaams Belang.

Subject: Belgian news