Just one week before the elections, Antwerp was the scene of the 0110 concerts, organised against racism, extremism and gratuitous violence.  However, Vlaams Belang asked many musicians to boycott the event, because it "only targets Vlaams Belang". The party considered the concerts as a direct attack by the political establishment. Since 1989, the other parties have instituted a cordon sanitaire against Vlaams Belang, forcing them into the opposition, notwithstanding their increasing electorial success. 250px| Sample of a Vlaams Belang election brochure In 2004, three organisations that were at the heart of the Vlaams Blok party were condemned for incitement to hate and discrimination, and the party reformed consequently and changed their name to Vlaams Belang, although the party top remained unchanged. In many countryside towns, Vlaams Belang participated in the elections for the first time, and immediately scored around 10\%. In Schoten, Lier (both not far from Antwerp) and other places, Vlaams Belang became the largest fraction, and the question remains if the cordon sanitaire will be upheld in these communes. 
Just one week before the elections, Antwerp was the scene of the 0110 concerts, organised against racism, extremism and gratuitous violence. The event was spurred by a series of acts of "pointless violence" during the last year (the murder of Joe Van Holsbeeck, the case Hans Van Themsche and the events surrounding Guido Demoor. However, Vlaams Belang asked many musicians to boycott the event, because it "only targets Vlaams Belang". The party considered the concerts as a direct attack by the political establishment. Since 1989, the other parties have instituted a cordon sanitaire against Vlaams Belang, forcing them into the opposition, notwithstanding their increasing electorial success. 250px| Cartoon from a Vlaams Belang electoral brochure, showing a white man waiting in line to vote for Vlaams Belang (VB) in a line full of immigrants, thinking "More than ever, Vlaams Belang". This was the first ballot since immigrants were given voting rights in municipal elections in 2004. In 2004, three organisations that were at the heart of the Vlaams Blok party were condemned for incitement to hate and discrimination, and the party reformed consequently and changed their name to Vlaams Belang, although the party top remained unchanged. In many countryside towns, Vlaams Belang participated in the elections for the first time, and immediately scored around 10\%. In Schoten, Lier (both not far from Antwerp) and other places, Vlaams Belang became the largest fraction, and the question remains if the cordon sanitaire will be upheld in these communes. Related news
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The event was spurred by a series of acts of "pointless violence" during the last year (the murder of Joe Van Holsbeeck, the case Hans Van Themsche and the events surrounding Guido Demoor.
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Sample of
Cartoon from
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election brochure
electoral brochure, showing a white man waiting in line to vote for Vlaams Belang (VB) in a line full of immigrants, thinking "More than ever, Vlaams Belang". This was the first ballot since immigrants were given voting rights in municipal elections in 2004.
A
Related news