Vooruit (, ) is a Flemish social democratic political party in Belgium.

The party was founded following the linguistic split of the unitary Belgian Socialist Party in 1978, which also produced the Francophone Socialist Party. It was formerly known as the Socialist Party (1978–2001: Socialistische Partij, SP) and subsequently "Socialist Party Alternative" (2001–2021: Socialistische Partij Anders, SP.A) until 2021, when its current name was adopted.

From December 2011 to September 2014, the party was part of the Di Rupo Government, along with its Francophone counterpart. In 2020, it re-entered federal government as part of the De Croo Government. The party has been a part of the Flemish Government several times.

History 1885–1940

1940–1978

Since 1978

The party was the big winner in the 2003 election, running on the SP.A–Spirit joint list (cartel) with the social-liberal party Spirit. Their share of the vote went up from 9% (of the total Belgian vote) to almost 15%, a second place in the number of votes. The main victim of this resurgence was the Green! party (formerly known as Agalev). SP.A was part of the "purple" federal coalitions of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt from 12 July 1999 until 10 June 2007, which contained both the Flemish and Francophone liberal and social-democratic parties.

In 2004, the SP.A along with its partner Spirit lost the elections for the Flemish Parliament. Although they won more seats in comparison to the Flemish elections of 1999, their percentage of the vote compared to the successful 2003 federal elections was considerably down. The reputation of then party leader Steve Stevaert took a beating too.

The party was briefly led by Caroline Gennez, after former president Steve Stevaert left to become governor of Limburg. Johan Vande Lanotte, who served as Minister of the Budget in the federal Government, was elected President and resigned as minister to become President on 17 October 2005. He resigned 11 June 2007, after SP.A–Spirit lost the elections for the federal parliament of 10 June 2007. In these federal elections, the cartel won 14 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 4 out of 40 seats in the Senate. Afterwards, Caroline Gennez was elected President by the party members.

As of May 2009, SP.A was in opposition in federal politics. Unlike its Francophone counterpart, the Socialist Party (PS), SP.A was not a participant in the Leterme II Government.

In January 2009, the party had apparently changed its name to Socialists and Progressive Differently (Dutch: Socialisten en Progressieven Anders). This name change was retracted and the party baseline was changed from Social Progressive Alternative (Dutch: Sociaal Progressief Alternatief) to Socialists and Progressive Differently (Dutch: Socialisten en Progressieven Anders).Naam van sp.a verandert niet, begeleidende slogan wel ("Sp.a name doesn't change, baseline does"), GvA, 17 January 2009

In the 2010 federal election, SP.A won 13 seats with 9% of the overall vote. The party was a member of the Di Rupo Government formed on 6 December 2011, until the elections in 2014. In the elections for the Chamber of Representatives on 25 May 2014, SP.A scored again 9% and received 13 seats, in contrast to their francophone Socialist Party counterparts, who lost 3 seats and whose share of the vote decreased by 2%. In the Flemish Parliament, SP.A have 18 representatives, deriving from around 14% of the vote—this is a small reduction on the 2009 parliament, where SP.A had 19 seats, deriving from 15% of the popular vote. From 2009–2014, SP.A participated in the Flemish Government, in an uneasy coalition with the CD & V and the N-VA. From 2014 onwards, SP.A formed part of the opposition in Flanders, as the regional government reflected the Flemish component of the federal administration, consisting of coalition of the Open-VLD, CD & V and the N-VA.

In January 2018, the party advocated for a "new socialism" and a "new equality". In September 2020, party leader Conner Rousseau announced a renaming of the party to Vooruit ("Forward"). The new name was made official on 21 March 2021.

Political views Vooruit is a centre-left Flemish social democratic party. Equal opportunities and solidarity are central to the party. The party strives to ensure that those who earn the most or own the greatest wealth also pay the highest taxes so that the government can meet the needs of people who are less fortunate. Vooruit focuses on protecting the purchasing power of ordinary citizens. It opposes cuts in social security and advocates investment, especially in education and health care.

Symbols

Presidents Party presidentsPeriodPresidentVice-President1978–1989Karel Van MiertN/A1989–1994Frank VandenbrouckeN/A1994–1998Louis TobbackN/A1998–1999Fred ErdmanN/A1999–2003Patrick JanssensN/A2003–2005Steve StevaertCaroline Gennez2005Caroline Gennez (ad interim)N/A2005–2007Johan Vande LanotteCaroline Gennez2007–2011Caroline GennezDirk Van der Maelen2011–2015Bruno TobbackJoke Quintens2015–2019John CrombezStephanie Van Houtven2019–2023Conner RousseauFunda Oru2023–2024Melissa Depraetere (ad interim)2024–presentConner Rousseau

Members holding notable public offices European politics European ParliamentNameCommitteesKathleen Van BremptInternational Trade

Federal politics Chamber of RepresentativesName Notes Name Notes Melissa DepraetereFaction leader Vicky Reynaert Jan Bertels Ben Segers Bert Moyaers Kris Verduyckt Anja Vanrobaeys Joris Vandenbroucke Karine JirofléeSenateType Name NotesCo-opted Senator Bert AnciauxFaction leaderCommunity Senator Kurt De LoorCommunity Senator Katia SegersCommunity Senator Annick Lambrecht

Belgian Federal De Croo GovernmentPublic OfficeNameFunctionDeputy Prime MinisterFrank VandenbrouckeSocial Affairs and Public HealthMinisterMeryame KitirDevelopment Cooperation and Urban Policy

Regional politics Flemish ParliamentName Notes Name Notes Hannelore GoemanFraction Leader Conner RousseauParty President Kurt De LoorCommunity Senator Freya Van den Bossche Annick LambrechtCommunity Senator Steve VandenbergheMayor of Bredene Maxim Veys Katia SegersCommunity Senator Bruno Tobback Caroline Gennez Hannes Anaf Els RobeynsMayor of Wellen Ludwig Vandenhove Parliament of the Brussels-Capital RegionName NotesFouad Ahidar Brussels Regional Government Vervoort IIPublic OfficeNameFunctionMinisterPascal SmetUrbanism, European and International Affairs, Foreign Trade, Fire Fighting and Emergency Medical Assistance

Provincial politics Provincial CouncilProvincePercentageSeats Antwerp12,80% Limburg20,10%° East Flanders12,70% Flemish Brabant12,10% West Flanders15,80% ° In Limburg, SP.A formed a cartel with Groen.

Election results Chamber of Representatives

Election Votes % Seats +/- Government 1978 684,976 12.4 1981 744,593 12.4 1985 882,200 14.6 6 1987 915,432 14.9 0 1991 737,976 12.0 4 1995 762,444 12.6 8 1999 593,372 9.5 6 2003* 979,750 14.9 9 2007 684,390 10.3 9 2010 602,867 9.2 1 2014 595,190 8.8 0 2019 455,034 6.7 4 2024 566,436 8.1 4

Senate Election Votes % Seats +/- 1978 678,776 12.4 1981 732,126 12.3 0 1985 868,624 14.5 3 1987 896,294 14.7 1 1991 730,274 11.9 3 1995 792,941 13.2 8 1999 550,657 8.9 2 2003 1,013,560 15.5 3 2007 665,342 10.0 3 2010 613,079 9.5 0

Regional Brussels Parliament Election Votes % Seats +/- Government Overall 1995 11,710 2.7 (#9) 1995 9,987 2.4 (#9) 0 1999 13,223 21.8 (#4) 3.1 (#8) 0 2004 11,052 17.7 (#3) 2.4 (#8) 1 2009 10,085 19.5 (#2) 2.2 (#6) 1 2014 10,450 19.5 (#2) 2.3 (#8) 1 2019 10,540 15.1 (#3) 2.3 (#10) 0 2024 8,045 10.0 (#6) 1.6 (#11) 1

Flemish Parliament Election Votes % Seats +/- Government 1995 733,703 19.4 (#3) 1999 582,419 15.0 (#4) 6 2004 799,325 19.7 (#4) 3 2009 627,852 15.3 (#3) 3 2014 587,903 14.0 (#4) 1 2019 438,589 10.3 (#5) 5 2024 606,406 13.8 (#3) 5

European Parliament Election List leader Votes % Seats +/- EP Group Overall 1979 Karel Van Miert 698,889 20.90 (#2) 12.84 New SOC 1984 979,702 28.13 (#2) 17.12 1 1989 Marc Galle 733,242 20.04 (#2) 12.43 1 1994 Freddy Willockx 651,371 17.63 (#3) 10.92 0 PES 1999 Frank Vandenbroucke 550,237 14.21 (#4) 8.89 1 2004 Mia De Vits 716,317 17.83 (#3) 11.04 1 2009 Kathleen Van Brempt 539,393 13.23 (#4) 8.21 1 S&D 2014 555,354 13.18 (#4) 8.30 1 2019 434,002 10.21 (#6) 6.45 0 2024 Bruno Tobback 570,067 12.64 (#4) 8.47 1

Notes

References

Further reading Johan Vande Lanotte (2010), Vlugschrift – over welvaart en geluk, (retrievable on the website sp.a-ledenbeheer), 96 p., . Patrick Vander Weyden, Koen Abts (2010), De basis spreekt — onderzoek naar de leden, mandatarissen en kiezers van sp.a (research on members sp.a by Ghent University), Acco (Leuven/Den Haag), 239 p., .

External links

(Dutch)