Far-right figure Thierry Baudet launched the Flemish branch of his political party Forum voor Democratie (Forum for Democracy) on Saturday, aiming to offer an alternative to existing Flemish

right-wing parties N-VA and Vlaams Belang. This move is emblematic of a growing trend in Belgium, with various new political parties emerging to capitalize on declining support for traditional centrist parties. However, navigating the country's political landscape poses significant challenges for these newcomers.

In the upcoming elections on June 9, 2024, voters will encounter a plethora of choices, including parties like Forum voor Democratie, BoerBurgerBelangen, Voor U, Redelijk Rechts, and Volt. Some of these parties originated from politicians discontented with their former party's direction, while others represent Flemish adaptations of successful Dutch counterparts.

A common obstacle for these parties lies in the stringent electoral threshold set at 5%, making it arduous for new entrants to garner sufficient support for effective governance. Established parties, benefiting from millions in state subsidies annually, present formidable competition. Notably, parties only receive state subsidies after securing an elected member in parliament. Consequently, new parties heavily rely on private donations for operational and campaign funding, creating a significant disadvantage compared to well-funded established counterparts.

For perspective, the Netherlands, with a minimal threshold of 0.6%, witnessed four new parties securing seats in the last two elections. In contrast, Belgium has not seen a new party cross the threshold in its maiden election since the libertarian Lijst Dedecker (LDD) achieved this feat in 2007. Photo by Theedi, Wikimedia commons.