From a political philosophy born in the late 19th century to revolution and bloodshed in the 20th, Marxism hasn't yet had its day. On the contrary, it continues to shape left politics in the 21st century. In Belgium, labour movements are supported not only by strong unions but also a fully-fledged political entity that takes the fight to the Federal Government.
According to its own campaign materials, the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB/PVDA) is anti-establishment, on a mission to free the country from the neoliberal structures imposed by EU regulations and global financial markets. Add in pay rises for staff of high-profit companies and a wealth tax, and there's no doubt this is a rupture with trad politics. I can hear knees clacking like castanets from Avenue Louise to Uccle.
But for all the frustration at social injustices that propels the party, I found its leader Raoul Hedebouw to be more approachable than daunting (perhaps it was my scarlet cravat). As well as speaking perfect French and Dutch, his media-savvy team is leaving no channel of communication unmanned, with operations on all the social networks that your granny hasn't heard of and even a hologram tour to beam a virtual Raoul around many Flemish cities at once.
It all makes for a compelling movement that is gathering momentum faster than any other party in Belgium. Clearly there is a widespread appetite for something rather different.
I was especially interested to find out how Hedebouw envisages his party if it secures the election gains that polls are predicting. Would PTB/PVDA enter a Federal Government? Or does it prefer to exert its influence from the outside? The latter has so far been a successful strategy, with the aforementioned tax on high-net-worth individuals picked up by several of the other 11 parties contesting in this week's election.
Compromise is unbecoming of hardliners and Hedebouw's rebuke of "betrayal" by Belgium's Socialist Party suggests he would be loath to make concessions if engaged in a multicoloured coalition, even if it were more red than blue.
But whether in government or maintaining its staunch opposition, can the Workers' Party stop Belgium slipping right? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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