National sections of Volt Europa. The borders of the European Union are shown in red.
Volt Belgium (short name: Volt, Dutch: Volt België, French: Volt Belgique, German: Volt Belgien) is a political party in Belgium. It is part of the pan-European party Volt Europa.
Policies
As part of the pan-European movement Volt Europa, the party aims to solve current challenges and issues such as climate change, migration and unemployment through closer European cooperation.[1] The party advocates for citizen participation and more transparency in politics.[2] The programme focuses on democratic reforms, climate change and the creation of healthy ecosystems, the strengthening of social and labour rights and the consolidation of the EU in both economic and foreign policy terms.[3]
European policy
The party aims to create a federal, united Europe. To do this, the party wants to strengthen the European Parliament and a European government and a European Prime Minister.[4][5]
Defence policy
In order to increase the efficiency of defence procurement, the party is striving for closer cooperation and joint procurement in the European Union.[6]
Transparency
The party is in favour of measures to increase the transparency of political processes. In particular, it favours publicly available data. It also calls for more commitment to fighting corruption and measures to regulate lobbying activities. It also proposes warning systems and infringement procedures to combat violations of fundamental freedoms.[3]
Immigration and asylum policy
Volt is in favour of a reform of immigration policy with a focus on integration that ensures "humane treatment.[3]
History
Volt has been active in Belgium since 2017 and was officially founded as a party on 28 July 2018.[7][8] The then 19-year-old Arno Sterck was elected chairman.[9] It was the first national section of the paneuropean movement to participate in an election. In April 2022, the party elected the German-French Johanna Dirlewanger-Lücke and the German-Italian Carlo Giovanni Giudiceneue as new party leaders.[4]
At its election congress in October 2023, the party chose Sophie in 't Veld for the Dutch-speaking electoral body and Suzana Carp for the French-speaking electoral body as its top candidates.[10][11]
In April 2024, a previously independent councillor from Lebbeke joined the party, giving Volt its first mandate in Belgium.[12]
In the 2019 Belgian parliamentary election, Volt participated in the Antwerp constituency and received 1669 votes, representing 0.14 % of the vote in the constituency and 0.02 % of the vote nationally.[17][18]
2024
The party will take part in the European elections in the Dutch and French-speaking electoral college. Lead candidates are Sophie in 't Veld and Bram Vandeninden for the Dutch electoral college and Suzana Carp and Arslan Jurion for the French electoral college. The party will also take part in the national parliamentary elections and the regional elections in Brussels and Flanders.[19][20]
To be eligible for election, the party had to collect at least 7500 signatures. Due to errors in the system for the digital collection of signatures, the party complained about the flaws in an open letter in January 2024.[21][22]
Organisation
The party is led by a dual leadership of a man and a woman.[4]
Finances
For transparency reasons, the party has committed itself to publishing all donations exceeding 500 euros on its website.[23]
Volt spent 100 euros on social media advertising on Facebook and Instagram in 2021, and 250 euros in 2022.[24]
