The local party STiP+ has decided not to enter into coalition with the far-right party Vlaams Belazng in the West Flemish town of Izegem. Last week STiP+ that is the largest party on Izegem Council said that it had reached a coalition agreement with Vlaams Belang. However, now there has been a change of heart. STiP+ says this is because its member have received threats since it was announced that that the party was to enter into a coalition with the far-right.
Local party STiP+ not to enter into coalition with far-right party Vlaams Belang in Izegem after all
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The task of trying to form a new coalition will now pass to the party that came second in the recent municipal election, the Flemish nationalist party N-VA. In a statement released on Monday STiP+ said "Threats were made that had a big impact on the professional and private lives of our councillors”.
The party says that to ensure the safety of those concerned it has decided to pull the plug on the coalition with Vlaams Belang. Nevertheless, it also says that it is still prepared to be part of a coalition in Izegem. "STiP+ remains the the winner of the election and Kurt Grymonprez remains a candidate to become mayor. The entire team continues to believe in him”.
Vlaams Belang leader Tom Van Grieken “shocked at what opponents are capable of” in Izegem
The leader of Vlaams Belang Tom Van Grieken says that he is shocked “at the methods opponents are capable of using” to ensure that his party stays on the sidelines.
Several members of the local party STiP+ were allegedly threatened with physical violence, dismissal from their jobs or told that contracts would be revoked after it was announced that the party planned to enter into a coalition with Vlaams Belang.