Leader Geert Lambert | Dissolved 2009 (2009) | |
Founded 2001 (2001) (as Spirit) Preceded by Spirit, Vlaams Progressieven Headquarters national secretariat
Woeringenstraat 21 Brussels Ideology Social liberalism,
Progressivism,
Flemish regionalism | ||
Sociaal-Liberale Partij ( listen; SLP; Dutch for Social Liberal Party) was a Belgian Flemish political party formed after dissolution of the moderate nationalist People's Union (Volksunie) party. Prior to 19 April 2008 it was known as Spirit, and intermediately as Flemish Progressives (VlaamsProgressieven). The party fused with Green! in the end of 2009 thus ceasing to exist.
Contents
History
The People's Union separated into two parties, the social liberal Spirit and the centre-right New-Flemish Alliance (N-VA), which formed a cartel with the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) party. The formation of the cartels was seen as a way in which Spirit and N-VA could guarantee their influence and position in Flemish and Belgian politics. The forming of the cartel led the liberal wing of the party to join the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD).
Abbreviation
Spirit was the abbreviation for
2007 elections
In the 10 June 2007 general elections, the Social Liberal party was in a cartel (electoral alliance) with Socialist Party Different (sp.a) and won 14 out of 88 Flemish seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 4 out of 40 Flemish seats in the Senate.
End of the cartel
In the autumn of 2008, following a scandal causing its leader, Bettina Geysen to step down, the Social Liberal Party ended its cooperation with SP.A. Geert Lambert was elected the new leader. Many prominent party members, including cofounder Bert Anciaux, left the party.