Far right gains
The week's news at a glance.
Antwerp, Belgium
An extreme-right party, Vlaams Belang, took 20 percent of the vote in local elections in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of northern Belgium. The Flemish party, which is against immigration and supports independence for Flanders, emerged just two years ago, after its predecessor party, Vlaams Blok, was disbanded by the courts for “inciting racial hatred.” Party leaders said they were pleased that they had achieved such a significant presence in a short time. Centrist and leftist parties said they were not alarmed by Vlaams Belang’s gains. They pointed out that in Flanders’ main city, Antwerp, traditionally a far-right stronghold, Vlaams Belang actually lost ground, taking second place to the Socialists.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
October 19 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's editorial cartoons include Pete Hegseth and the press, an absence of government, and George Washington crossing the Delaware
-
A little-visited Indian Ocean archipelago
The Week Recommends The paradise of the Union of the Comoros features beautiful beaches, colourful coral reefs and lush forests
-
AI: is the bubble about to burst?
In the Spotlight Stock market ever-more reliant on tech stocks whose value relies on assumptions of continued growth and easy financing