Belgian far-right party nominates Holocaust denier for local elections
- Roeland Raes, a 90-year-old Holocaust denier, has been nominated by the Vlaams Belang party for local elections in Belgium.
- He was convicted in 2008 for Holocaust denial and is placed 27th on the party's candidate list for Aalter.
- The decision to include Raes has drawn criticism and highlights the party's controversial stance on extremist views.
The Vlaams Belang party in Belgium has nominated Roeland Raes, a 90-year-old convicted Holocaust denier, for the upcoming municipal elections. Raes, who co-founded the Vlaams Blok party, was convicted in 2008 for questioning the scale of the Holocaust and the authenticity of Anne Frank's diary. Although he received a suspended sentence, his conviction remains. He is placed 27th on the party's candidate list for Aalter, which consists of 29 candidates. Paul Beheyt, the lead candidate for Vlaams Belang in Aalter, stated that Raes was given a symbolic position on the list out of respect for his role as a founder of Vlaams Blok. This decision has sparked outrage, particularly from political figures like Michael Freilich, a Belgian MP and grandson of a Holocaust survivor, who criticized the party for showcasing its true nature by including a convicted Holocaust denier. Denying the Holocaust is illegal in several European countries, reflecting the serious nature of such beliefs and their implications. The inclusion of Raes on the candidate list comes as Belgium prepares for provincial, municipal, and district elections scheduled for October 13. Vlaams Belang, which recently gained significant electoral support, is facing scrutiny for its choice of candidates. The nomination of Raes raises concerns about the normalization of extremist views within mainstream politics in Belgium. As the elections approach, the party's decision may influence public perception and voter behavior, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding far-right ideologies in Europe.