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Groen (political party)

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Groen (Dutch: [ɣrun] ⓘ; lit. 'Green'), 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
PresidentNadia Naji and
Jeremie Vaneeckhout
Founded1979; 45 years ago (1979)
HeadquartersVan Orleystraat 5-11, 1000 Brussel, Belgium
Youth wingYoung Green
Membership (2018)Increase 10,000[1]
IdeologyGreen politics[2]
Pacifism
Progressivism
Political positionCentre-left
Regional affiliationSocialists, Greens and Democrats[3]
European affiliationEuropean Green Party
European Parliament groupThe Greens–European Free Alliance
International affiliationGlobal Greens
Francophone counterpartEcolo
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

History

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Agalev

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In 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)

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In 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 [nl] and Ludo Sannen [nl] 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–present)

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In 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 2022 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]

Political views

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Groen 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]

Party chairperson

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Co-presidents Nadia Naji and Jeremie Vaneeckhout
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

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European politics

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European Parliament[30]
Name Committees
Sara Matthieu International Trade
Employment and Social Affairs

Federal politics

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Chamber of Representatives[31]
Name Notes
  Wouter De Vriendt Faction leader
  Kim Buyst
  Kristof Calvo
  Barbara Cremers
  Eva Platteau
  Dieter Van Besien
  Stefaan Van Hecke
  Kathleen Pisman
Senate[32]
Type Name Notes
Co-opted Senator   Fourat Ben Chikha [nl] Second vice president of the Senate
Community Senator   Stijn Bex [nl]
Community Senator   Soetkin Hoessen [nl]
Community Senator   Chris Steenwegen [nl]
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

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Flemish Parliament[34]
  Meyrem Almaci   Imade Annouri [nl]   Stijn Bex
  Johan Danen   Ann De Martelaer   Celia Groothedde [nl]
  Elisabeth Meuleman [nl]   Ann Moerenhout   Staf Aerts
  Bjorn Rzoska   Mieke Schauvliege [nl]   Chris Steenwegen
  Tine van den Brande   Jeremie Vaneeckhout

Regional politics: Brussels

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Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region[35]
Name Notes
Juan Benjumea Moreno [nl]
Lotte Stoops [nl]
Soetkin Hoessen [nl]
Arnaud Verstraete [nl] Faction Leader
Brussels Regional Government Vervoort II[36]
Public Office Name Function
Minister Elke Van den Brandt Mobility and Public Works

Election results

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Chamber of Representatives

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Election Votes % Seats +/− Government Elected members of parliament
1977 2,435 0.0
0 / 212
 Extra-parliamentary
1978 5,556 0.1
0 / 212
   0 Extra-parliamentary
1981 138,575 2.3
2 / 212
   2 Opposition Ludo Dierickx, Fernand Geyselings
1985 226,758 3.7
4 / 212
   2 Opposition Ludo Dierickx, Mieke Vogels
1987 275,437 4.5
6 / 212
   2 Opposition Jozef Cuyvers, Wilfried De Vlieghere, Jos Geysels, Hugo Van Dienderen, Wilfried Van Durme, Mieke Vogels
1991 299,550 4.9
7 / 212
   1 Opposition Magda Aelvoet (until 20 July 1994) → Lodewijk Steenwegen, Luc Barbé, Wilfried De Vlieghere, Vera Dua, Jos Geysels, Hugo Van Dienderen, Mieke Vogels (until 11 January 1995) → Peter Luyten
1995 269,058 4.4
5 / 150
   2 Opposition Frans Lozie, Jef Tavernier, Hugo Van Dienderen, Lode Vanoost, Joos Wauters
1999 434,449 7.0
9 / 150
   4 Coalition Eddy Boutmans (until 12 October 1999) → Leen Laenens, Anne-Mie Descheemaeker, Kristien Grauwels, Simonne Leen, Fauzaya Talhaoui, Jef Tavernier (until 28 August 2002) → Liliane De Cock, Peter Vanhoutte, Lode Vanoost, Joos Wauters
2003 162,205 2.5
0 / 150
   9 Extra-parliamentary
2007 265,828 4.0
4 / 150
   4 Opposition   Meyrem Almaci,   Wouter De Vriendt,   Tinne Van der Straeten,   Stefaan Van Hecke
2010 285,989 4.4
5 / 150
   1 Opposition   Meyrem Almaci,   Eva Brems,   Kristof Calvo,   Wouter De Vriendt,   Stefaan Van Hecke
2014 358,947 5.3
6 / 150
   1 Opposition  Meyrem Almaci,  Kristof Calvo,  Stefaan Van Hecke,   Evita Willaert,  Wouter De Vriendt,  Anne Dedry
2019 413,836 6.1
8 / 150
   2 External support (2020)   Kim Buyst,   Kristof Calvo,   Barbara Creemers,   Wouter De Vriendt,   Jessica Soors (until 2020) →   Eva Platteau,   Stefaan Van Hecke,   Dieter Van Besien,   Kathleen Pisman
Coalition (2020–)
2024 324,608 4.7
6 / 150
   2 TBD

Senate

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Election Votes % Seats +/−
1977 3,270 0.1
0 / 106
1978
0 / 106
1981 121,016 2.0
1 / 106
   1
1985 229,206 3.8
2 / 106
   1
1987 299,049 4.9
3 / 105
   1
1991 314,360 5.1
5 / 70
   2
1995 223,355 3.7
1 / 40
   4
1999 438,931 7.1
3 / 40
   2
2003 161,024 2.5
0 / 40
   3
2007 241,151 3.6
1 / 40
   1
2010 251,605 3.9
1 / 40
   0

Regional: Brussels

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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
   1 Opposition
1999[a] 13,223 21.8 (#4) 3.1 (#8)
0 / 75
   0 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
   1 Opposition Adelheid Byttebier
2009 5,806 11.2 (#5) 1.3 (#10)
2 / 89
   1 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
   1 Opposition Bruno De Lille, Annemie Maes, Arnaud Verstraete
2019 14,425 20.6 (#1) 3.1 (#7)
4 / 89
   1 Coalition Elke Van den Brandt (became minister ) → Soetkin Hoessen, Arnaud Verstraete, Lotte Stoops, Juan Benjumea Moreno
2024 18,345 22.82 (#1)
4 / 89
   0 TBD

Regional: Flemish Parliament

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Election Votes % Seats +/− Government Elected representatives
1995 267,155 7.1 (#6)
7 / 124
 Opposition   Vera Dua,   Jos Geysels,   Johan Malcorps,   Ludo Sannen,   Jos Stassen,   Ria Van Den Heuvel,   Cecile Verwimp
1999 451,361 11.6 (#5)
12 / 124
   5 Coalition   Magda Aelvoet (until 12 July 1999; became federal minister) → Ann De Martelaer,   Veerle Declercq,   Jos Geysels,   Eloi Glorieux,   Dirk Holemans,   Johan Malcorps,   Frans Ramon,   Ludo Sannen (until 26 May 2003; replaced Vera Dua as Flemish minister) → Flor Ory (until 17 February 2004) → Ludo Sannen,   Jos Stassen,   Ria Van Den Heuvel,   Jo Vermeulen,   Vera Dua (became Flemish minister) → Isabel Vertriest (until 26 May 2003) → Vera Dua
2004 308,898 7.6 (#5)
6 / 124
   6 Opposition   Rudi Daems,   Vera Dua,   Eloi Glorieux,   Jos Stassen,   Jef Tavernier,   Mieke Vogels
2009 278,211 6.8 (#7)
7 / 124
   1 Opposition   Bart Caron,   Elisabeth Meuleman,   Dirk Peeters,   Hermes Sanctorum,   Luckas Vander Taelen,   Mieke Vogels,   Filip Watteeuw (until 31 December 2012)
2014 365,779 8.7 (#5)
10 / 124
   3 Opposition   Imade Annouri,   Bart Caron,   Johan Danen,   Elisabeth Meuleman,   Ann Moerenhout,   Ingrid Pira,   Bjorn Rzoska,   Hermes Sanctorum (until 2016; became independent),   Wouter Van Besien,   Elke Van den Brandt
2019 428,696 10.1 (#5)
14 / 124
   4 Opposition   Meyrem Almaci,   Jeremie Vaneeckhout,   Johan Danen,   Björn Rzoska,   An Moerenhout,   Stijn Bex,   Mieke Schauvliege,   Chris Steenwegen,   Imade Annouri,   Celia Groothedde,   Elisabeth Meuleman,   Ann De Martelaer,   Staf Aerts,   Tine Van den Brande
2024 304,688 7.17
9 / 124
   5 TBD

European Parliament

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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
   1 RBW
1989 446,539 12.20 (#4) 7.57
1 / 24
   0 G
1994 Magda Aelvoet 396,198 10.73 (#5) 6.64
1 / 25
   0
1999 Patsy Sörensen 464,042 11.98 (#6) 7.50
2 / 25
   1 Greens/EFA
2004 Bart Staes 320,874 7.99 (#5) 4.94
1 / 24
   1
2009 322,149 7.90 (#6) 4.90
1 / 22
   0
2014 447,391 10.62 (#5) 6.69
1 / 21
   0
2019 Petra De Sutter 525,908 12.37 (#5) 7.81
1 / 21
   0
2024 Sara Matthieu 450,781 10.00 (#5) 6.31
1 / 21
   0
  1. ^ In coalition with SP

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Open VLD heeft de meeste leden en steekt CD&V voorbij". deredactie.be. 30 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Flanders/Belgium". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  3. ^ "Politieke fracties". Benelux Parliament (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b c "Elections 24: what do the Flemish ecologists of Groen stand for?". vrtnws.be. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  6. ^ "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).
  7. ^ "Belgium || Bomspotting. 2,000 Protest Against Nuclear Weapons". International Socialist Alternative. 2002-10-07. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  8. ^ "Groen". Encyclopedie Vlaamse Beweging (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Misnoegde brief van de bever aan De Wever" [displeased letter of the beaver to De Wever]. MO* Magazine (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Belgium celebrates 20 years of same-sex marriage". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Belgium arms sale row deepens". BBC. 27 Aug 2002. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Waar staat Groen voor?" [What does Groen stand for?] (in Dutch). VRT NWS. 2024-04-15.
  15. ^ "De terugkeer van Groen!" [The comeback of Groen!]. Sampol (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Akkoord voor Brusselse regering is rond: mét Open VLD, zonder MR". VRT NWS (in Dutch). 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Why did it take so long to form Belgium's new 'Vivaldi' coalition?". euronews. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  20. ^ "Green MEP Petra De Sutter to be named deputy Belgian PM". POLITICO. 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ "Le décès de Wilfried Bervoets endeuille les Verts". Le Soir (in French). 1998-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Meyrem Almaci verkozen tot voorzitter van Groen". VRT NWS (in Dutch). 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "Full list of MEPs". European Parliament (official website). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  31. ^ "Kamerleden | Zittingsperiode 55" [Members of the Chamber | Legislation period 55]. De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigersa. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  32. ^ "Lijst van de senatoren" [List of senators]. Belgische Senaat. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  33. ^ "Composition of the Belgian federal government". belgium.be. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  34. ^ "Volksvertegenwoordigers" [Representatives]. Vlaams Parlement (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  35. ^ "Volksvertegenwoordigers" [Representatives]. Parlement Bruxellois Brussels Parlement (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  36. ^ "The Government of the Region". Brussels-Capital Region. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
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