Workers Party of Belgium
Encyclopedia
The Workers' Party of Belgium is a Marxist political party
in Belgium
. It is one of the few parties that operates as a single Belgian party. Most other parties are either Flemish
or Francophone
.
The PVDA-PTB hosts the International Communist Seminar, which in recent years has become one of the main worldwide gatherings of communist parties.
. Radicalized students (organized in the student union SVB - Studenten VakBeweging), mainly from the Catholic University of Leuven
, turned towards the working-class movement. They considered the politics of the existing Communist Party of Belgium
revisionist, i.e. too much turned toward the social-democratic politics (represented in Belgium by the Belgian Socialist Party
). They were influenced by the ideas of the Communist Party of China
, guerrilla
movements in Latin America
, the movement against the Vietnam War
, the Leuven-Vlaams movement, all perceived as aspects of a worldwide struggle against colonial or neocolonial oppression and for civil or workers' rights.
Their support and participation in an important strike in the coalmines turned the movement into a political party. They founded a periodical, AMADA (Alle Macht Aan De Arbeiders - all power to the workers), which became the first name of their party. In 1979 the first congress was held, which adopted a Maoist programme and changed the name into PVDA-PTB. Ludo Martens
became the first president, and remained an important ideologist of the party until his death in 2011.
On March 2, 2008 the PTB has closed its eighth Congress. It was placed under the sign of renewal. He, among others, adopted new statutes and elected a new Central Committee. It has elected a new president in the person of Peter Mertens. The latter is 39 years old, graduated in sociology from the University of Ghent, including author "The working class in the era of transnational corporations" (Marxist Studies No. 72 - www.marx.be)
Recent developments
Following his electoral defeat of 2003 on, the PTB has fundamentally changed its working methods and communication. On the one hand, the PTB said it would refocus on working with factory workers as well as field work in communities where it operates. On the other hand, the PTB said officially break with what he calls his sectarian past to get closer to the concrete demands of citizens. This is an authentic Marxist must blend in with the people as a fish in water (Mao). This is reflected particularly by the claims put forward very concrete progress on lower drug prices, the reduction of VAT on energy products from 21% to 6%, an increase of the minimum pension, better control of rents or the lower cost of trash bags.
In view of the Belgian elections of June 2007, the Solidarity newspaper and the website of the party were merged in order to reach a wider public. The structures have also been "open" to a broader layer of activists.
On March 2, 2008, the work of the Eighth Congress of the PTB have been completed at a closing meeting at the VUB. This Congress has been placed under the sign of a "party renewal." The Central Committee elected to Congress VIIIime PTB in turn elected a new Bureau of the Party. It consists of:
Peter Mertens, 39. President
Neufcourt Lydia, 54. Responsible for expanding the party
Hedebouw Raoul, 31. National voice of the PTB
Jef Bruynseels, 58. Head of union relations
Cottenier Jo, 61. Responsible for the socio-economic issues
Baudouin Deckers, 62. Head of International Relations. Former Secretary General of the PTB.
Hasaers January, 41. Communication Manager.
David Pestieau, 39. Editor of Solidarity.
This 'shift' seems to have produced some positive results as a slight increase in membership and a rebound (albeit moderate) the electoral score of the PTB in the last elections. There is also an increase in media coverage of the party (even if it is still extremely low).
During his VIIIième congress, the party reaffirmed the Marxist principles firm but flexible approach to the citizen. Playing politics with people and not for people!
More than 4500 members in June 2011
Its weekly publication "Solidarity / Solidarity" has between 3,000 and 5,000 subscribers.
Comac its youth movement is active in all the universities in Belgium and in secondary schools (both in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels).
Eleven medical centers of Medicine for the people.
The four law firms progressive "Progress Lawyers Network".
The PTB boss a Marxist Studies Institute organizes every year a summer school and publishes the quarterly journal Studies Marxists.
The PTB, the newspaper Solidarity and medical centers Medicine for the People (which provide access to free primary care and quality) create "Manifiesta", the festival of solidarity between communities and the left Belgium. The first edition was held in Bredene (at sea) 25 September 2010 and brought together 6,000 people from both North and South of Belgium.
, where it obtained 21,67 % of the vote and 6 out of 23 seats in the municipal council. Also in seven other municipalities or city districts the party is now represented in the council: Hoboken, Herstal
, Deurne, Genk
, La Louvière
, Lommel
and Seraing
.
The general elections of 2007
saw the PVDA-PTB obtaining 0.88 % in the Flemish electoral district
and 0.81 % in Wallonia.
In the regional elections in 2009
the PVDA-PTB gained 1.04 % of the vote in Flanders (+ 0.48) and 1.24 % of the vote in Wallonia (+ 0.62). For the European elections
on the same day the results were: 0.98 % in the Dutch-speaking electoral college
(+ 0.37) and 1.16 % in the French-speaking electoral college
(+ 0.35).
The progress is very limited in Wallonia and much stronger in Flanders. In total, the PTB to improve its score of approximately 18 000 votes compared to 2003 and 10 000 votes compared to the 2004 European elections to a total of 55,000 votes.
In the General elections of June 2010 the PTB growed a little bit. In Flanders it now represents 1,3 % (+0,4%) of the votes for the chamber of representatives and 1,4 % (+0,5%) for the senate. Especially in the cities progress was noted with high scores in Antwerp (4,1%) andt Liège (4,2%). The highest score was gained in the region of Herstal (9,8%), Assenede (7,5%) and Seraing (7,3%), places where the PTB traditionally is strong.
While acknowledging that this is not a solid progress, the PTB is satisfied, however, his score makes him the first indisputably electoral party of the radical left in Belgium, before the PC and PSL. However, the PTB makes a renewal of qualifying left party but always referring to Marxism. In June 2010, days before the election in 2010 after the fall of the government led by the liberal Open VLD, polls give the PTB to 1.9% of voting intentions for Sunday, June 13, 2010. It was not as far as the poll gave him but has doubled its number of votes at the last election was 101,000 votes out of the whole of Belgium.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It is one of the few parties that operates as a single Belgian party. Most other parties are either Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
or Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
.
The PVDA-PTB hosts the International Communist Seminar, which in recent years has become one of the main worldwide gatherings of communist parties.
History
The Workers' Party of Belgium originated in the student movement at the end of the 1960s1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. Radicalized students (organized in the student union SVB - Studenten VakBeweging), mainly from the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, turned towards the working-class movement. They considered the politics of the existing Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Belgium was a political party in Belgium. The youth wing of KPB/PCB was known as the Communist Youth of Belgium. The party published Le Drapeau Rouge in French and De Roode Vaan in Dutch.- History :It was formed at a congress in Anderlecht on September 3-4 1921...
revisionist, i.e. too much turned toward the social-democratic politics (represented in Belgium by the Belgian Socialist Party
Belgian Socialist Party
The Belgian Socialist Party was a democratic socialist party which existed in Belgium from 1945 to 1978.The BSP was founded by activists from the Belgian Labour Party , which was the first Belgian socialist party. It ceased to function during the Second World War, while Belgium was under Nazi...
). They were influenced by the ideas of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
, guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
movements in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the movement against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the Leuven-Vlaams movement, all perceived as aspects of a worldwide struggle against colonial or neocolonial oppression and for civil or workers' rights.
Their support and participation in an important strike in the coalmines turned the movement into a political party. They founded a periodical, AMADA (Alle Macht Aan De Arbeiders - all power to the workers), which became the first name of their party. In 1979 the first congress was held, which adopted a Maoist programme and changed the name into PVDA-PTB. Ludo Martens
Ludo Martens
Ludo Martens was a Belgian historian noted for his work on francophone Africa and the Soviet Union. Martens wrote on the political history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he has lived and travelled extensively....
became the first president, and remained an important ideologist of the party until his death in 2011.
On March 2, 2008 the PTB has closed its eighth Congress. It was placed under the sign of renewal. He, among others, adopted new statutes and elected a new Central Committee. It has elected a new president in the person of Peter Mertens. The latter is 39 years old, graduated in sociology from the University of Ghent, including author "The working class in the era of transnational corporations" (Marxist Studies No. 72 - www.marx.be)
Recent developments
Following his electoral defeat of 2003 on, the PTB has fundamentally changed its working methods and communication. On the one hand, the PTB said it would refocus on working with factory workers as well as field work in communities where it operates. On the other hand, the PTB said officially break with what he calls his sectarian past to get closer to the concrete demands of citizens. This is an authentic Marxist must blend in with the people as a fish in water (Mao). This is reflected particularly by the claims put forward very concrete progress on lower drug prices, the reduction of VAT on energy products from 21% to 6%, an increase of the minimum pension, better control of rents or the lower cost of trash bags.
In view of the Belgian elections of June 2007, the Solidarity newspaper and the website of the party were merged in order to reach a wider public. The structures have also been "open" to a broader layer of activists.
On March 2, 2008, the work of the Eighth Congress of the PTB have been completed at a closing meeting at the VUB. This Congress has been placed under the sign of a "party renewal." The Central Committee elected to Congress VIIIime PTB in turn elected a new Bureau of the Party. It consists of:
Peter Mertens, 39. President
Neufcourt Lydia, 54. Responsible for expanding the party
Hedebouw Raoul, 31. National voice of the PTB
Jef Bruynseels, 58. Head of union relations
Cottenier Jo, 61. Responsible for the socio-economic issues
Baudouin Deckers, 62. Head of International Relations. Former Secretary General of the PTB.
Hasaers January, 41. Communication Manager.
David Pestieau, 39. Editor of Solidarity.
This 'shift' seems to have produced some positive results as a slight increase in membership and a rebound (albeit moderate) the electoral score of the PTB in the last elections. There is also an increase in media coverage of the party (even if it is still extremely low).
During his VIIIième congress, the party reaffirmed the Marxist principles firm but flexible approach to the citizen. Playing politics with people and not for people!
More than 4500 members in June 2011
Its weekly publication "Solidarity / Solidarity" has between 3,000 and 5,000 subscribers.
Comac its youth movement is active in all the universities in Belgium and in secondary schools (both in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels).
Eleven medical centers of Medicine for the people.
The four law firms progressive "Progress Lawyers Network".
The PTB boss a Marxist Studies Institute organizes every year a summer school and publishes the quarterly journal Studies Marxists.
The PTB, the newspaper Solidarity and medical centers Medicine for the People (which provide access to free primary care and quality) create "Manifiesta", the festival of solidarity between communities and the left Belgium. The first edition was held in Bredene (at sea) 25 September 2010 and brought together 6,000 people from both North and South of Belgium.
Elections
In the municipal elections of 2006 the PVDA-PTB won the best score in ZelzateZelzate
Zelzate is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Zelzate proper. On January 1, 2006 Zelzate had a total population of 12,176. The total area is 13.71 km² which gives a population density of 888 inhabitants per km².Zelzate is...
, where it obtained 21,67 % of the vote and 6 out of 23 seats in the municipal council. Also in seven other municipalities or city districts the party is now represented in the council: Hoboken, Herstal
Herstal
Herstal, formerly known as Heristal, or Héristal, is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege along the Meuse river. Herstal is included in the "Greater Liège" agglomeration, which counts about 600,000 inhabitants...
, Deurne, Genk
Genk
Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
, La Louvière
La Louvière
La Louvière is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. La Louvière's municipality includes the old communes of Haine-Saint-Paul, Haine-Saint-Pierre, Saint-Vaast, Trivières, Boussoit, Houdeng-Aimeries, Houdeng-Gœgnies, Maurage, and Strépy-Bracquegnies...
, Lommel
Lommel
Lommel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Lommel had a total population of 31,898. The total area is 102.37 km² which gives a population density of 312 inhabitants per km².-Lutlommel:...
and Seraing
Seraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
.
The general elections of 2007
Belgian general election, 2007
The 2007 Belgian general election took place on Sunday 10 June 2007. Voters went to the polls in order to elect new members for the Chamber of Representatives and Senate.Eligible voters were Belgian citizens 18 years and older...
saw the PVDA-PTB obtaining 0.88 % in the Flemish electoral district
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
and 0.81 % in Wallonia.
In the regional elections in 2009
Belgian regional elections, 2009
Regional elections were held in Belgium on 7 June 2009 to choose representatives in the regional councils of Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
the PVDA-PTB gained 1.04 % of the vote in Flanders (+ 0.48) and 1.24 % of the vote in Wallonia (+ 0.62). For the European elections
European Parliament election, 2009 (Belgium)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Belgium was on Sunday 7 June 2009 and was the election of the delegation from Belgium to the European Parliament...
on the same day the results were: 0.98 % in the Dutch-speaking electoral college
Dutch-speaking electoral college
The Dutch-speaking electoral college is one of three constituencies of the European Parliament in Belgium. It currently elects 14 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
(+ 0.37) and 1.16 % in the French-speaking electoral college
French-speaking electoral college
The French-speaking electoral college is one of three constituencies of the European Parliament in Belgium. It currently elects 9 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
(+ 0.35).
The progress is very limited in Wallonia and much stronger in Flanders. In total, the PTB to improve its score of approximately 18 000 votes compared to 2003 and 10 000 votes compared to the 2004 European elections to a total of 55,000 votes.
In the General elections of June 2010 the PTB growed a little bit. In Flanders it now represents 1,3 % (+0,4%) of the votes for the chamber of representatives and 1,4 % (+0,5%) for the senate. Especially in the cities progress was noted with high scores in Antwerp (4,1%) andt Liège (4,2%). The highest score was gained in the region of Herstal (9,8%), Assenede (7,5%) and Seraing (7,3%), places where the PTB traditionally is strong.
While acknowledging that this is not a solid progress, the PTB is satisfied, however, his score makes him the first indisputably electoral party of the radical left in Belgium, before the PC and PSL. However, the PTB makes a renewal of qualifying left party but always referring to Marxism. In June 2010, days before the election in 2010 after the fall of the government led by the liberal Open VLD, polls give the PTB to 1.9% of voting intentions for Sunday, June 13, 2010. It was not as far as the poll gave him but has doubled its number of votes at the last election was 101,000 votes out of the whole of Belgium.