Website of the Belgian CWI section - Linkse Socialistische Partij - Mouvement pour une Alternative Socialiste

Linkse Socialistische Partij (Left Socialist Party) - Mouvement pour une Alternative Socialiste (Movement for a Socialist Alternative), is the Belgian section of the Committee for a Workers' International.

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Contact the Belgian CWI section:

National. PO Box 10011 1190 Brussels - Forest | 0032 2 345 61 81 | lspmas@skynet.be
Campaign sites: Blokbuster | Internationaal Verzet - Résistance Internationale | Actief Linkse Studenten - Etudiants de Gauche Actifs

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National conference of LSP/MAS. Extremely succesfull meeting of the Belgian left socialists
Last weekend the Left Socialist Part / Movement for a Socialist Alternative (LSP/MAS) held its national conference at the Belgian coast. The conference had to be postponed with a week following the announcement of a national demonstration against the jobcuts at the Volkswagen plant in Vorst. At that demo our members sold 500 papers and collected over 1,000 euro for the fighting fund. We also had a succesfull intervention with the broader CAP (Committee for Different Politics).
Article by Geert Cool | 15 December 2006

25,000 demonstrate in solidarity with striking car workers
Three years after massive job cuts at Ford-Genk (the loss of 3,000) and nine years after the closure of Renault-Vilvoorde, the announcement of Volkswagen that it will cut 4,000 jobs in its plant in Vorst (Brussels) was a shock for many workers in Belgium.
Article by Geert Cool | 5 December 2006

Closure of Volkswagen factory shocks country. Up to 11,000 jobs threatened
Workers of the Volkswagen plant in Brussels – one of the biggest workplaces in Belgium - are furious about the proposed a massive job-cuts and, more likely the complete closure of the factory. Despite being the second most productive factory in Volkswagen internationally, the management has been threatening and intimidating workers for years, using possible relocation as the stick to hit with. In this way they pushed through more flexibility, cuts in break-times and increased the work rate. Now, the efforts of the workers are finally re-paid… with a closure of the plant!
Article by Simon Van Haeren | 25 November 2006

Six hundred at conference for a new left formation. Important step towards a new workers’ party
The movement for “different politics” (CAP) initiated by the former social democratic MPs Jef Sleeckx and Lode Van Outrive held its first conference on 28 October. This conference was an important step towards the building of a new workers’ party that respects the diversity of the workers movement and which can be used as a political instrument to unite our forces. The conference showed the huge potential for such a formation, but also pointed out some dangers. While this conference was an important starting point, the struggle to build such a force is not yet over.
Article by Eric Byl | 4 November 2006

Local elections. National government’s defeat hidden by media!
The Belgian October 8 local council elections showed some important trends. The winners were the opposition Christian Democrats and the extreme right, in both the Flemish and French speaking sides of the country. Most parties in the Federal and regional governments, especially the Liberals, did badly. Last year’s widely supported general strikes and mass protests showed how unpopular their policies are.
Article by Els Deschoemacker | 18 October 2006

Growing potential for new anti-neo-liberal political initiative. CWI contests local elections to highlight case for new workers’ party
The political situation in Belgium has changed quite dramatically over the last year, starting with two general strikes and big protests. This was first general movement of Belgian workers since the 1993 general strike. These protests against the attempt of the government to change the pension legislation graphically illustrated the absence of a political instrument for workers. The most advanced layers of workers felt this issue was the most urgent one to resolve.
Article by Bart Vandersteene | 6 October 2006

Interview with Jef Sleeckx. Veteran workers’ leader discusses a new political initiative
On Thursday, 13 April, 2006, Bart Vandersteene interviewed Jef Sleeckx in his home town, Mol, Belgium. On the eve of local elections in Belgium and before an important national meeting, later in October, we publish Bart’s discussion with Jef Sleeckx’s on a new, left political initiative.
Read more | 6 october 2006

Police raids led to arrest of neo-Nazis and arms finds. Serving soldiers amongst suspects
Last Thursday, after a raid by the Belgian police, 17 activists from the Neo-Nazi movement, ‘Blood & Honour’, were arrested. Amongst those held were 10 Belgian army professional soldiers. The next day, two more neo-Nazis were arrested. The main suspects organised a fascist grouping inside the army, whose activities included weekend "terrorist" training camps and trading arms.
Read more | 14 September 2006

Jobs, not racism! Everything that divides us, makes us weaker!
In the past weeks there was a lot of racist and other useless violence in Belgium. In the Brussels Central Station a young man, Joe Van Holsbeeck, was murdered by two youth who wanted his MP3-player. In Brugge a group of neo-nazi skinheads attacked two men, a black man is still in coma. In Antwerp the 18-year old Hans Van Themse shot some immigrants with a gun. Result: two dead and one wounded. Just before that police found the body of Mohamed Bouazza in Antwerp. He probably also was the victim of a racist attack. The anger and the shock after this violence is huge. As socialists we do not limit ourselves to sympathy for the victims, but we also want to raise a strategy of fighting racism and violence in society.
Read more | 20 May 2006

700 people demonstrate against Vlaams Belang conference
Neo-liberal policies expose reactionary party’s ‘worker-friendly’ rhetoric. On Saturday, 26 November, the Vlaams Belang (VB, the re-named Vlaams Blok) organised a national conference in Ghent to discuss its economic policies. The preparations for this conference made clear that the party is trying to prove to the bosses that they are “reliable”.
Read more | 29 November

100,000 workers demonstrate in Brussels. Resistance against government’s pension cuts far from “isolated”
Before a general strike on 7 October, Belgium’s politicians and the pro-capitalist press presented the ABVV/FGTB (the social democratic trade union federation) as ‘isolated’ for organising the strike on their own while ‘everyone’ was opposed to it. The unions’ demonstration, last Friday, in Brussels, made clear that the resistance against the attacks on early retirement are far from isolated. Around 100,000 were present at a protest organised by both the Christian and the social-democratic trade union federations.
Read more | 1 November

Unions call national day of action against pension reforms. 28 October strike poses need for new workers’ party
Following the successful 7 October general strike, organised by the social-democratic trade union ABVV/FGTB, Belgium is now preparing for another national day of action, on 28 October, against government attacks on early retirement.
Article by Geert Cool | 25 October

Successful general strike shuts down major workplaces
Government forced to partially retreat, but unions must still oppose cuts They will not have liked it, but in between the insults, threats and accusations, the pro-capitalist press, the bosses and the politicians had to admit that the general strike on 7 October, called by the social democratic trade union federation, the ABVV/FGTB, was an overall success.
Article by Eric Byl | 14 October

Asian earthquake disaster
We are involved in a solidarity campaign following the Asian earthquake.
Articles and updates

General strike planned for Friday over pension ‘reforms’
Anger over a new pension scheme proposed by the Belgian federal government will lead to the paralysing of the country from Friday 7 October onwards. On that day, the social democratic union federation (ABVV/FGTB), organising over 1.3 million workers, calls for a 24-hour general strike. Three days later there will be another general strike called by the Christian union federation (ACV/CSC), organising over 1.6 million workers, and the liberal union (ACLVB/CGSLB), organising over 0.4 million workers.
Article by Eric Byl | 5 October

Active Left Students (ALS) under attack by university authorities. Relentless campaign sponsored by university Rector to ban ALS
Active Left Students (ALS) is the most successful student organisation in Belgium. In four out of six universities it is the biggest, politically active group. This academic year alone, ALS has organised an anti-fascist march in Ghent with 1500 students, participated in protests against the visit of the American president Bush to Belgium and supported the national campaign for a youth march against unemployment and racism.

Read more | 21 March

Pictures: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Defeat the bosses’ offensive. Unite and build an international, socialist alternative!
Today, the Belgian Youth March for Work, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and the European Social Forum are jointly protesting against growing unemployment, against insecure jobs, against the Iraq war and imperialist occupation and against the policies of the European Union. Tens of thousands will show their opposition to the the bosses’ and governments’ attempt to drive down living standards even further. But how will this be done most effectively? The Belgian Youth March for Work and the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) – which has members from Belgium (LSP-MAS), France (Gauche Révolutionnaire), Germany (SAV), the Netherlands (Offensief), and Britain (Socialist Party) protesting today - believe that we need to organise, on an international scale, the growing resistance of workers and youth to capitalist policies.
CWI-leaflet | 19 March

Protests against Bush visit to Brussels
Thousands took part in the protests during the Brussels visit of US president Bush. Thanks to an impressive press coverage of the visit, the protests grew bigger than expected. On Monday 21 february between 4,000 and 5,000 held a protest outside the US embassy in Brussels. This was organised by a coalition of some 90 organisations, including political parties represented in the government.
Read more | 22 February

1.500 at anti fascist demo in Ghent.
LSP/MAS organises biggest anti-fascist demonstration since the beginning of ’90. 1.500 students and young people marched through the streets of Gent last night to counter the demonstration organised by NSV, the fascist student wing of Vlaams Belang, the renamed Vlaams Blok. The campaigning and mobilisation for this anti-fascist demonstration fell, as has been the case since ’95, almost exclusively on the shoulders off Blokbuster and Active Left Students, respectively the anti-fascist campaign and student organisation of LSP/MAS, the Belgian section of the CWI. The NSV mobilised only 150.
Read more | 3 December

Vlaams Blok - new name, same racism.
On 9 November the highest court in Belgium confirmed an earlier court decision convicting three associations linked to the Vlaams Blok for racism. Even though the court case was not directly against the Vlaams Blok, it was generally seen as a conviction for racism of the Vlaams Blok itself.
Article by Geert Cool | 3 December

National Conference LSP/MAS
On 11, 12 and 13 November some 150 members and supporters of the Belgian CWI section met for a national conference.
Picture report | 14 November

Instability reigns in Belgium
If you would have to describe the Belgian political situation in just one word, that word would have to be instability. Everyday the fall of the federal government is predicted in at least one newspaper. Although the press is telling us how good the economy is doing, unemployment is still rising and the unemployed are threatened with a permanent witch hunt.
Article by Anja Deschoemacker | 6 November

A “new course” for the Vlaams Blok?
Is the Vlaams Blok trying to change itself into a more “mainstream” rightwing party? According to some of the Belgian media there is a serious discussion about this inside the Vlaams Blok. After three associations linked to the Vlaams Blok were found guilty by a court of being racist, there is a threat of the Vlaams Blok losing its state subsidy which, in total, is about 5.5 million euro a year. The leadership of the Vlaams Blok immediately started a discussion on changing its name to avoid losing the funding.
Read more | 19 September

20,000 votes for socialism
Linkse Socialistiche Partij(LSP)/Mouvement pour une Alternative Socialiste(MAS), the Belgian affiliate of the CWI, for the first time ever stood nationally in elections and won at least 19,841 votes.
Report by Geert Cool | 14 June

Student election success
The Active Left Students (ALS), the student organisation of the LSP/MAS, the Belgian affiliate of the cwi, has won a second election victory at the Flemish university in Brussels.
Article by Karl Debbaut | 27 May

LSP/MAS takes part in European elections
We have collected 5,000 signatures amongst Frenchspeaking and 5,000 signatures amongst Dutchspeaking people and after a lot of problems with the bureaucracy, we finally know that we can participate in the European elections with a Dutchtspeaking list (LSP) and a Frenchspeaking list (MAS).

Electoral registration office bans Belgian cwi contesting elections | 20 April

Belgian CWI to stand in Euro-elections | 16 April

We have produced two electoral websites: MAS and LSP.

Concerted attack against Active Left Students
LSP/MAS, the Belgian affiliate of the cwi, has developed very successful student organisations. We have been in the forefront of the anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist movements in the last few years. The successful launch and campaigning with organisations like International Resistance meant that we have been able to politicise and give direction to the anti-capitalist movement.
Article by Karl Debbaut | 8 May

700 at anti-fascist demo in Antwerp
On 11 March we organised a demonstration in Antwerp to protest against a demo of the fascist studentgroup NSV. The NSV, with the help of Vlaams Blok leader Dewinter, only managed to mobilise 200 while we had some 700 at our demo.

Report from the demo | 12 March

Pictures: (1) | (2) | (3)

Belgian CWI members demonstrating through Antwerp

European Social Forum: 100,000 demonstrate
On November the 15th some 100,000 demonstrated through Paris as part of the European Social Forum. The CWI had its own contingent on the demo.
Picture report by Johan Vermeulen | 16 November

LSP/MAS conference marks big step forward
Last weekend, LSP/MAS held a national conference to discuss 'Political alternatives for the. With 134 participants from 17 branches this conference was the biggest ever in the history of the party in Belgium.
Report by Eric Byl | 10 November

Hundreds arrested during anti-NATO protest
On Saturday 25 October, 1,000 people protested in Casteau near Mons (in the Walloon area in Belgium) against the NATO military headquarters SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe). The repressive actions of the police led to the arrest of hundreds, including members of Linkse Socialistische Partij / Mouvement pour une Alternative Socialiste
Report by Geert Cool | 26 October

3,000 jobs threatened at Ford Genk
After the dramatic closures and the lost jobs in Renault, Sabena, Cockerill and Philips, there is another threat of the loss of several thousands of jobs at Ford Genk. Against all agreements made between management and unions, Ford wants to sack 3,000 workers.
Article by Eric Byl | 14 October

18 October: 20,000 demonstrate
Pictures: Report 1 | Report 2

Demonstration against the occupation of Iraq
Last Saturday 2,000 demonstrated in an anti-war demo in Belgium. The demonstration was organised by the national anti-war committee.

Report by Nikei De Pooter | 28 September

Pictures + video

Protest against jailing of Joe Higgins and Clare Daly
The Irish MP Joe Higgins and councillor Clare Daly were sent to Mountjoy Prison for defending the poor in the fight against the Bin Tax. On 22 september protest actions were organised internationally.
Picture report from the protest at Irish embassy in Brussels | 22 September

Vlaams Blok - what it is and how to fight it
The Vlaams Blok is built on the traditions of the Flemish nationalist collaboration with the German nazi-regime in the 1940s.
Article by Geert Cool | 15 September

Larzac: Rally shows discontent in France
30 years after the first big demonstration against the military bases in Larzac, southwest France, over 350,000 people met there again this summer, three times more than expected.
Article by Vincent Devaux | 10 September

Afghan refugees on hunger strike in Brussels
Since the end of July some 300 Afghan refugees have been occupying a church in Ixelles, Brussels, to protest against the Belgian government’s attempt to deport asylum seekers from Afghanistan. The Belgian government says it wants to send them back to help “rebuild Afghanistan”.
Read more | 14 August

19 - 21 June. Thessaloniki (Greece): protest against EU summit
During the EU summit in Greece thousands are demonstrating. A group of members of the Belgian CWI is taking part in our international intervention in the demonstrations.

Reports by Nikei De Pooter

Protests against EU summit | 20 June

Greek Social Forum - Anti-racist demo - Direct action | 21 June

GSF meeting - Big demonstration | 22 June

Pictures

Social Forum: picture report by Laurent Grandgaignage and Thomas Beaujean

19 June anti-racist demo. Picture report

Demo on friday

GSF meeting on saturday

Demo on saturday

Belgian elections: Growing polarisation
The results of the Belgian elections underline the political instability which has grown over recent years and which is expressed in a growing number of undecided voters and voters changing the party they vote for. The period of stability with one big bourgeois party, the Flemish Christian democratic CVP, being able to chose its smaller partners (social democrats or liberals) to govern is clearly over.
Read more | 25 May

Belgian elections
For the first time ever, the Belgian CWI had a national list of its own in the Flanders area. We also had a list for the lower house in Eastern Flanders and took part in left lists in Brussels, Liège and Hainaut. In Flanders we obtained 8,337 votes (0.2%).
Our results | 19 May

25 April: Police violence against CWI members at Cockerill demo in Luxemburg
On 25 April 3,000 workers demonstrated in Luxemburg city. After the demo the police attacked a group of young political activists, members of the CWI. 9 were arrested, including 3 members of the Belgian CWI section and 2 of the German CWI. CWI members in Luxemburg and members of a leftwing party 'Déi Lénk / La gauche' will be holding a press conference to denounce the police violence.
Pictures from the police violence | 29 April

Cockerill workers demonstrate in Luxemburg
On 17 april more than 2,500 workers of Cockerill went to Luxemburg to protest against the planned closure of a part of the Cockerill factories near Liège. Members of LSP/MAS joined the protest. The police attacked the demonstration.
Report by Nicolas Croes | 19 April

Vlaams Blok members attack socialists in Dilbeek (Belgium)
On Sunday morning about 20 anti-fascists held a protest outside a meeting hall owned by the village of Dilbeek (near Brussels) where the Vlaams Blok had a meeting with its leader Filip Dewinter speaking. When the anti-fascists arrived they were 'welcomed' by a group of Vlaams Blok militants led by their local MP Jurgen Ceder.
Article by Tim Joosen | 31 March

National elections 18 May: Against war, crisis and capitalism. Support our socialist opposition
4 years of the 'Purple-Green' coalition (government coalition of rightwing liberals, social-democrats and greens) ment a further destruction of our social rights like a job with a decent wage and decent working conditions, public services, social security for all,…
Article by Bart Vandersteene | 30 March

Anti-war actions in Belgium

21 March: 30.000 demonstrate in Brussels at ETUC demo

Police attacks Brussels anti-war demonstrations

Caterpillar strikes against the war

Pictures: 22 March: 10,000 demonstrate in Brussels | Second picture report from 22 March | 3 April: 500 demonstrate in Gent

LSP/MAS plays key role in anti-war actions on Day X
Tens of thousands joined in Day X protests in Belgium. The Linkse Socialistische Partij/Mouvement pour une alternative Socialiste (LSP-MAS), the Belgian section of the CWI, played a key role in all the biggest demonstrations.