Flemish nationalist leader in Belgium supports SSPX

SSPX Antwerp

“We don’t even want to form a coalition with this N-VA”: strong language from Filip Brusselmans, the new vice-chairman of Vlaams Belang

“Filip Dewinter is no longer Vlaams Belang, and vice versa. We are more than that.” Unprecedentedly sharp language from the new vice-chairman Filip Brusselmans, who is completely fed up with the antics of the old leader. A conversation about ideology, subsidy guzzlers and the end of Forza Flandria.

A coffee bar in Sint-Niklaas, his hometown. Filip Brusselmans is barely 27, and has been a member of the Flemish Parliament for 6 years – the youngest ever. Since January he has also been vice-chairman of Vlaams Belang, the number two, so to speak. He says that he finds clothing important when I point to his suit and orange tie. “There are politicians, especially from the left, who almost come to parliament in jogging suits. I think that is unacceptable. That is about respect for the voter. You don’t go to a funeral in swimming trunks, do you?”

Has Parliament become your habitat?

“I really like working there. It is an honour to be allowed to sit there. But we shouldn’t call each other Liesbeth. It is difficult to achieve things from the opposition. If I submit a proposal tomorrow, it will be voted down anyway. What you can do is weigh in indirectly: address absurdities, help determine the agenda, and so on.”

You often make the news with attacks on the cultural world. Why are you so hostile to that?

(protesting) “That image is incorrect. I have been following cultural policy closely for six years and I have learned two things. One: that the vast majority deserves an incredible amount of respect. But also two: that there is a self-proclaimed elite that thinks it is above everything and everyone. They are the subsidy guzzlers.”

Who are you targeting then?

“The big non-profit organisations. The socio-cultural work. Left-wing activists like Dominique Willaert. You should look at the annual accounts of the KVS (Royal Flemish Theatre, ed.). (more fiercely) They are 85 percent dependent on the taxpayer and they think that is normal. Well, I don't! They think the Flemish identity is something dirty, but when it comes to Flemish tax money, they are in the front row.”

Would you only support those who do what you want?

“But no. We would set our own accents. Every minister does that. By the way, we think that the cultural budget should be increased considerably. It is now more than one percent of the total budget. We would increase that to two percent. Culture in the broad sense of the word is important in the context of identity and community building. That does not mean that we would only subsidise things that have to do with Flemish identity. I am against that.”

It's almost one year since the elections. Why didn't your party succeed in becoming the largest?

"I'm tired of hearing that we lost. We won the elections, but were then thrown out with the trash by N-VA. Why didn't we become the largest? Because many voters have been misled by Bart De Wever's lies in recent weeks. But it will have been the last time. His government will be the government of broken promises. The budget is the best example."

"I'm annoyed that it's always the same people who cause the commotion. Filip Dewinter is no longer Vlaams Belang, and vice versa."

Was it wrong for your party to launch an attack on Petra De Sutter (Groen)?

“We didn’t do that. We attack systems, not individuals. There was a lot of media framing in that area. Suddenly it was all about Petra De Sutter and LGBTQ rights. We were put on the defensive by lies from other parties and those were taken over by the media.”

You once said that a gender change is a surrender to the absurd. That’s not a lie, is it?

“Here we go again. (sigh) That was an open letter from the KVHV, the student association that I was chairman of at the time. That was in 2018. And why did we do that? To denounce the media circus surrounding Bo Van Spilbeeck. It was almost glorified. We don’t think that should be the new normal.”

Do you think that’s a surrender to the absurd?

“No, that’s language I wouldn’t use today. If someone absolutely wants to change gender, then that’s fine with me. But I don’t think that should be paid for with taxpayers’ money.”

In Hungary, meanwhile, Pride is banned. Would you do the same?

“No. I think they wanted to respond to a case of indecency. Look: I wouldn’t participate in a Pride myself because I think it’s a… (choosing his words) crazy parade. That has nothing to do with sexual orientation anymore. Many LGBT people are also ashamed of that. But if someone wants to organize a parade, and there is no danger to public order, then I’m not going to ban it. Enough is already banned in this country.”

Hungary is a guiding country, you often say. Isn't that because the rights for gays and transgenders are being scaled back there?

"Not at all. I don't even know which rights they are rolling back. What I find strong about Hungary is the family policy they are pursuing. They are very aware that we are not having enough children in Europe, which is endangering our future prosperity. Soon we will need migration to survive. That is why they are encouraging parenthood with all kinds of fiscal measures."

Like CD&V also wants to do here?

"What Sammy Mahdi is putting on the table is a copy paste of what we want to do. But when we propose something like that, the media headlines that we want to turn our women into brood hens. Hungary is also a guiding country in the field of culture. They spend no less than seven percent of their budget on culture. That is unprecedented."

Let's zoom in on your ideology. How would you describe yourself?

(thinks) “Right-wing conservative. Flemish nationalist. Someone who attaches great importance to identity and culture.”

How important is religion?

“In my private life: very important. That has grown over the years. I was raised Catholic, but not practicing. As a child I rarely went to mass, but today I do. I missed something in my life and that is why I went looking for meaning and depth. I found that in faith. You notice that more and more young people are looking for that.”

You are a follower of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X. That sounds macabre?

“It is not, mind you. (laughs) The most important difference is that this parish does not give in to the dogmas of the Second Vatican Council.”

The priest still stands with his back to the people and the mass is in Latin.

(nods) “As it always was until the sixties of the last century. With the Second Vatican Council, they wanted to make the church more popular by making everything more flexible and accessible. The opposite was achieved. The mystery disappeared and the church became almost vulgar. Moreover, people started saying that all religions are equal. I don't agree with that. For me, Islam is not compatible with Christianity and therefore not with Flemish culture either.”

“Forza Flandria is dead. N-VA is no longer a Flemish nationalist party. So there is nothing left to unite”

Do you come from a political background?

“No, absolutely not. My parents are divorced. I grew up with my mother in Stekene. She was an executive assistant at SMEs. We didn't do politics. When I said I was going to enter politics, our mother wasn't exactly happy. But look: today she is my biggest fan.” (laughs)

Are you related to the writer?

“No. Or certainly not until the 1750s: that’s how far back our family tree goes. He’ll be happy when he reads that, because he once wrote that I’m a devil’s child. Conversely, I feel less resentment. I even enjoy reading his books.”

How important is an independent Flanders to you?

“That’s crucial. Firstly, because I believe that people, culture and state should coincide. In Belgium, two cultures live side by side and that’s exactly why you can’t implement policy here. That’s why De Wever will have to swallow his promises one by one. So it’s not just a romantic goal, it’s also a means to implement the policy that the Flemish people are asking for. The day we regionalise our pensions, they will be affordable, because the employment rate here is much higher than in Wallonia. To give just one example.”

Is the Forza Flandria idea (uniting Flemish forces) dead, now that N-VA is back in the federal government?

“Yes, and that is a pity. I have always believed in Forza Flandria. That was even an important trigger to take the step into politics. (thinks) I am going to say something bold, but with this N-VA we do not even want to form a coalition anymore. Because we would not be able to implement a policy that we support. N-VA is no longer a Flemish nationalist party. It is not even a right-wing party anymore. So there is nothing to unite anymore. So yes, Forza Flandria is dead. I am willing to believe that De Wever was once convinced of Flemish autonomy, but he threw that overboard in order to become prime minister. I look at that with dismay.”

Shouldn't you be able to admit that this government is picking up the signal from the voters? The strict migration policy that it wants to implement was even praised this week by your Dutch kindred spirit Geert Wilders.

(grins) “Politics is also communication. Geert uses Belgium to put pressure on his own country. In practice, however, I see very little of that so-called strict migration policy. (on a roll) The asylum bill is gigantic: 1.2 billion! What are they saving on? On the return policy, while that should be the final piece. The government is mainly good at tough talk, but actions are lacking.”

Something else. How do you view what is happening in Ninove?

“I find it distressing. Our alderman there, Malika (Sclacmender, stepdaughter of Guy D’haeseleer, ed.), a 21-year-old girl, is arrested with a great show of force and even has to stay in jail for a night, while real criminals are released after an hour. It makes me angry, honestly.”

If I were suspected of forging sick notes, I would also be arrested. Why should a politician be above the law?

“I’m not asking that. I think it’s good that the investigation is being conducted. But you wouldn’t be dragged out of bed at 6 a.m. I’m talking about the show of force, about the intimidation, of course on the instructions of the Ghent public prosecutor’s office. There was no risk of flight here, right? That could have been done in a different way.”

Those are dangerous words. Do you still believe in the rule of law?

“Yes, but you can’t be blind to what the Ghent public prosecutor’s office is doing. There’s a political color to it. Look at the trial against Dries Van Langenhove: isn’t that shocking?”

Why? Racism is punishable, even for politicians.

“It’s about a few memes that were spread among each other. Those were distasteful memes and I would never share them. (gets worked up) But should you send someone to prison for that? Look here. (shows a newspaper article on his smartphone) Gang rapists get away with an essay (and a suspended prison sentence, ed.)! Put those two things side by side. Isn’t that madness?”

Back to your party. What needs to happen so that you are the biggest next time?

“We need to take away the illusion from voters that there is a choice to be made between two Flemish nationalist parties. Anyone who put their trust in De Wever last year will be left orphaned. Incidentally, that also applies to the Flemish level: what a mess N-VA is creating there! Anyone who wants change can only vote for Vlaams Belang. That is what we need to make clear. Our programme is strong, nothing should be changed about it.”

And the bigwigs? What did you think of Filip Dewinter posing with a Verdinaso flag this week, a symbol of fascism?

(hesitantly) “I think people now know that Filip Dewinter’s problems are no longer my party’s problems. Filip Dewinter is no longer Vlaams Belang, and vice versa. We are more than that. It will not stop people from voting for us.”

He is still a Flemish Parliament member for your party. Or will he be expelled from the party?

“First of all, that is not for me to decide. Don't forget that he was elected by the voters. You have to respect that. (quietly) But I am not going to constantly justify what he does or says.”

I see that you are annoyed by this.

“That it is always the same people who cause trouble, that is what annoys me. And then we are expected to solve it. So I am not going to do that. That is why I say: this is his problem, not the party's. Let him solve it himself.”

Source