‘Europe let the people decide’ is the European slogan of the right winged Flemish party Vlaams Belang. They are more extreme right than right. Racial statements have brought this party in difficulties more than ones. That’s also the reason why they had to change their name (or they would have lost their financial support) and why there hangs a cloud above the candidacy of their person heading the list for Europe.
Franck Vanhecke is the former president of the party. In my country (= Belgium) there’s a legal concept called graded responsibility. That means that an article or text can be published without the name of the author, a printing office and so one, but not without the last person on the ladder: the imprint, the ultimate person who has responsibility. He or she must always be known. Because of his political immunity the party always put Vanhecke down as imprint. But after a scandal in local party newspaper where they openly accused immigrants of grave violations on a local cemetery, which appeared to not have been the case, problem arose again. The European Parliament decided that the political immunity of Vanhecke would be revoked and he could be tried in court which could result in the loss of his citizen values, which means that he couldn’t practice politics for a while. Vanhecke is confident that there will be no problem or consequences: “My case is currently appearing in front of the European court in Luxembourg. I expect that the judges will overturn the recall of my immunity.” I also served him my series of questions.
Bio
Age: 49 (soon 50)
Studies: degree in Literature and Philosophy and a degree in Communication Science
Former parties: Volksunie. (This party no longer exists; it is split into two parties. I will spare you from a list of the name changes, they are now known as SLP and NV-A.)
What are the most important reasons why people must vote for you?
Vanhecke: “We are the only euro critical party in Flanders, who has fundamental objections against the possible entry of Turkey into the European Union.”
Is this your first time Europe?
Vanhecke: “No, I have been a Member of the European Parliament since 1994, with a short break in the period 2003/2004.”
Is your programme for the regional elections very different from that for the European elections?
Vanhecke: “The starting-points are similar, but are European programme is focused on European themes such as the possible entry of Turkey, the lack of democracy and the necessity of the Flemish voice in Europe.”
Is the possible entry of Turkey high on your party’s topic list?
Vanhecke: “It’s a very important issue in our European programme. We are very much against the entry of Turkey into the Union because they don’t fulfil any of the criteria to become a member and they don’t belong to the European civilized community. And to think that such a country can become one of the biggest and powerful member states thanks to their extensive population figures.”
What are your 3 main goals as a Member of Parliament?
/ (Still waiting on an answer)
If you could change one thing about the working of the European Union or European Parliament what would that be?Vanhecke: “The implementation of the principle of subsidiarity, which means that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level.”
Which principle of the European Union or European Parliament can’t ever be touched?
Vanhecke: “The principle of unanimity for essentials subjects. Every member state needs to agree.”
Do you think the Belgian people underestimate the importance of Europe and its Parliament?
Vanhecke: “There’s a lack of interest in what we call the Ver-van-mijn-bed show (literary translation: far-from-my-bed show) of Europe. It’s normal and understandable. Law, right and politics should be empowered from the level closest to the people. Even today some people don’t know that we will have European elections this June.”
If you could chose – regardless of the outcome of the elections – who gets to take the place of Barroso as President of the European Commission. Who would it be and why?
Vanhecke: “It doesn’t matter so long it is a pro-Europe, but Euro critical person.”
(3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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