Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie
The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie ("New-Flemish Alliance") is a Belgian political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a separatist movement that strives for secession of Flanders from Belgium.In 2001, the Volksunie ("Peoples Union") split into two parties: Spirit and Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie. This was the result of internal struggles between the right-wing base and the left-wing leadership. The chairman of the Volksunie, Geert Bourgeois, won a referendum among the members with 47% of the votes. The leftist group of Bert Anciaux got 22% of the votes. 31% voted against a split. Since no group got over 50%, the name Volksunie couldn't be in use any longer.
The N-VA has members from across the political spectrum, but as a whole it is considered center-right. It is seen as a democratic alternative to the extreme-right Vlaams Blok. Its motives for secession are mainly pragmatic ones.
At the federal elections in 2003 N-VA got 5% of the votes, but only one seat in the federal parliament. They are considering an alliance with the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams ("Christian Democratic and Flemish").
