Socialist Party – Different
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| Socialistische Partij – Anders | |
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| Leader | Caroline Gennez |
| Political Ideology | social democracy |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Earlier name(s) | SP, SP/PS, BSP/PSB, BWP/POB |
| International Affiliation | Socialist International |
| European Affiliation | Party of European Socialists |
| European Parliament Group | Party of European Socialists |
| Cartel | SP.A.-SPIRIT |
| Walloon/French-speaking counterpart | Socialist Party (PS) |
| Website | www.s-p-a.be |
| Headquarters | national secretariat Grasmarkt 105/37 Brussels |
| Colours | Red |
| See also | Politics of Belgium Politics of Flanders Politics of Wallonia |
Socialist Party – Different (Dutch: Socialistische Partij – Anders) (SP.A) is the Flemish social democratic party in Belgium. It was formerly known as Belgische Socialistische Partij (BSP) and Socialistische Partij (SP).
The party was the big winner in the 2003 election, running on a joint list (cartel) with the social liberal Spirit party. Their share of the vote went up from 9% (of the total Belgian vote) to almost 15%, a second place in the number of votes. The main victim of this resurgence was the Green! party (formerly known as Agalev). The SP.A was part of the "purple" federal coalitions of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt containing four liberal and socialist parties from the north and the south of the country from 12 July 1999 until 10 June 2007.
In 2004, the SP.A along with its partner Spirit lost the elections for the Flemish parliament. Although they won more seats in comparison to the Flemish elections of 1999, their percentage of the vote compared to the successful 2003 federal elections was considerably down. The reputation of then party leader Steve Stevaert took a beating too.
The party was shortly led by Caroline Gennez, after former president Steve Stevaert left to become governor of Limburg. Johan Vande Lanotte, who served as Minister of the Budget in the federal Government, was elected President and resigned as minister to become President on 17 October 2005. He resigned 11 June 2007, after SP.A-Spirit lost the elections for the federal parliament of 10 June 2007. [1] In these general elections, the cartel won 14 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 4 out of 40 seats in the Senate.
Federally, SP.A is currently in opposition, as unlike its Francophone counterpart PS, it is not a participant in the current Leterme I Government.
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[edit] Presidents
SP/PS
SP
- 1978-1989 Karel Van Miert
- 1989-1994 Frank Vandenbroucke
- 1994-1998 Louis Tobback
- 1998-1999 Fred Erdman
- 1999-2001 Patrick Janssens
SP.a
- 2001-2003 Patrick Janssens
- 2003-2005 Steve Stevaert
- 2005 Caroline Gennez
- 2005-2007 Johan Vande Lanotte
- 2007-present Caroline Gennez
[edit] Other important members
- Freya Van den Bossche, currently Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Budget and Consumer Affairs
- Bruno Tobback, currently federal minister of environment and retirements
- Renaat Landuyt, currently federal Minister of Transportation
- Peter Vanvelthoven, currently federal Minister of Labour
- Bruno Tuybens, currently State Secretary for Public Enterprises, attached to the Minister of Budget
- Kathleen Van Brempt, currently Flemish Minister for Mobility, Social Economy and Equal Opportunities.
- Pascal Smet
- Mia De Vits
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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