We have seen a neo-liberal policy with some progressive looking ideas or initiatives. Especially the social-democratic SP.A is trying to keep up appearances. While their ministers are in a key position for the destruction of the public services and social security, they claim to be the main defenders of these! The Greens will have problems to present one realisation during their period in government.

Despite the poor results of the government, it is likely that a second edition of this government will be formed after the elections. The opposition of the Christian-democrats is very weak while there is no leftwing opposition in parliament. This will most certainly make the Vlaams Blok growing as they will present themselves as the only party being "different".

The first purple-green government has been able to use the economic growth in the first years of its rule. But this is definitely gone. In one year time we're back at the unemployment level of 1999. The new jobs that were created are mostly flexible, low-wage, parttime jobs for which the bosses were given serious presents in the form of lower taxes.

The next government won't be able to start in a period of economic growth. They will be confronted with a need to make further cuts. The IMF and OECD already announced the Belgian government needs to stop the wage adaptions to the living cost (this system is called "indexation" of the wages), building down the early retirement measures ("pre-pension"),…

Today the resistance against the policies of the government is already suffering because of the absence of a strong massive leftwing opposition. In the coming years the need for such a political force will become even more clear. On the other hand, the antiglobalisation movement and the anti-war movement show the huge potential for a strong leftwing opposition.

LSP/MAS wants to take part in building a strong leftwing opposition. Where possible we will stand in the elections together with others, in other places we stand on our own. We are collecting 5,000 signatures to be able to have a LSP list for the Senate in the whole of Flanders. For the Chamber we have a list in the province of Eastern Flanders (around Gent). In Brussels, Liège and Hainaut we will have candidates on the open lists of the Parti Communiste.

We appeal all those who agree with our analysis to help our campaign by donating to our electoral funds, help in the campaign by actively building our party and to join the leftwing socialists.

Bart Vandersteene

Visit our electoral website (in Dutch): www.stemLSP.be