The Team Fouad Ahidar (TFA) is a Belgian political party. Founded in 2024 as a Muslim and minority-interests party, it is named after its founder, Fouad Ahidar. It is a member of the European Free Palestine Party.[1]
Team Fouad Ahidar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | TFA |
| Leader | Fouad Ahidar |
| Founded | 9 February 2024 |
| Split from | Vooruit |
| Headquarters | Lombardstraat 69, 1000 Brussels |
| Ideology | Muslim interests Multiculturalism Anti-Zionism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| European affiliation | Free Palestine Party |
| Colours | Purple |
| Chamber of Representatives | 0 / 150 |
| Senate | 0 / 60 |
| Flemish Parliament | 1 / 124 |
| Walloon Parliament | 0 / 75 |
| Brussels Parliament | 3 / 17 Flemish seats |
| Parliament of the French Community | 0 / 94 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 22 |
| Benelux Parliament | 0 / 21 |
| Website | |
| fouadahidar | |
Establishment
editFouad Ahidar was elected as a Brussels MP in 2004 for sp.a, later known as Vooruit. He held a leading position in the party and was party leader. After Vooruit party chairman Conner Rousseau was charged with making racist statements,[2] Ahidar resigned from the party in December 2023.[3] In February 2024, he announced that he would present his own list in the Dutch-speaking electoral college in Brussels for the upcoming elections.[4]
Despite being nominally a bilingual and cross-community party, Team Fouad Ahidar presented candidates in only the Dutch-speaking electoral college in Brussels and for the Flemish parliament.
2024 elections
editIn the elections for the Brussels Parliament on June 9, 2024, the party obtained 16.47% of the votes and three seats with Fouad Ahidar, Najima El Arbaoui and Ilyas El Omari in the Dutch language group. This made Team Fouad Ahidar the second largest faction on the Dutch-speaking side, after Groen. In addition, the party obtained 17.97% and one of the six seats with M'Hamed Kasmi in the electoral area of the Brussels members of the Flemish Parliament.
After the election, Vooruit MP Hannelore Goeman claimed that the party's success was based on "fake news and lies".[5] Reformist Movement and DéFI both stated they would not form a Brussels government with Team Fouad Ahidar, effectively relegating the party to opposition.[6]
Election results
editChamber of Representatives
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fouad Ahidar | 24,826 | 0.36 | 0 / 150
|
New | Extra-parliamentary |
Regional
editBrussels Parliament
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (Dutch language group) | Fouad Ahidar | 13,242 | 16.47 | 3 / 17
|
New | Opposition |
Flemish Parliament
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fouad Ahidar | 14,187 | 0.32 | 1 / 124
|
New | Opposition |
References
edit- ^ "La coalition Belge NL – Free Palestine Party". Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ NWS, VRT (2023-10-02). "Vooruit-voorzitter Conner Rousseau wordt donderdag verhoord over mogelijk racistische uitlatingen". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ "Brussels MP Fouad Ahidar leaves Vooruit: 'I am deeply appalled by the many blunders, the convictions for racism and sexism'". Ground News. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ "Fouad Ahidar trekt Gewestlijst voor 'Team Fouad Ahidar'". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ "Socialist MP claims Team Fouad Ahidar's success was thanks to a "campaign full of lies and fake news"". vrtnws.be. 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ Chini, Maïthé (18 June 2024). "'Unprecedented': MR and DéFi veto newcomer Team Fouad Ahidar in Brussels Government". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 2024-06-20.