The far right in Belgium won an unprecedented absolute majority in the town of Ninove in October's municipal election. Guy D'haeseleer, who takes over as mayor on 5 December, says all residents and newcomers must learn Flemish to get "access to social benefits."
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00:00We are going to connect the knowledge of the Dutch language to a number of social advantages.
00:24Through the OCIW and the CPS we will only be able to provide social advantages to people who have acquired a certain level of knowledge of the Dutch language.
00:37If they don't do that, if they don't make an effort, they won't get any extra social advantages.
00:43We are going to apply that as much as possible in social housing.
00:54We have received almost 50% of the votes.
01:03One out of two innovators voted for us.
01:05That is because the innovators are concerned about the increasing immigration, the increasing deforestation of our city and the increasing insecurity.
01:14Mr. Dazeleer should not think that people will suddenly sell their home because they are French-speaking.
01:30Language freedom is a basic law.
01:33We have done that over the past period with respect for all people, for all cultures.
01:43We hope that it will be a story in which everyone is treated equally, but I fear for that.