Res Publica is a Flemish think group of politicians, academics, intellectuals and opinion makers, founded in 2009, which foster Flemish independence, apart from the Belgian context.
The group joins other Flemish think tanks such as Pro Flandria and the Gravensteen Group, but also maintains contacts with the three so-called "V-parties": (New Flemish Alliance, Flemish Importance and List Dedecker). Politicians of these three formations are members.
Core members of the group include: philosopher Ludo Abicht, publicist Brecht Arnaert, social activist Julien Borremans, LDD politician Boudewijn Bouckaert, Pro Flandria president Guy Celen, journalist Frans Crols, philosopher Koenraad Elst, journalist Mark Grammens, N-VA politician Jan Jambon, philosopher publisher Johan Sanctorum, jurist Matthias Storme, left flamingist Jef Turf and VB politician Bruno Valkeniers.
When the ACV union chairman Luc Cortebeeck advised, in the run-up to the Belgian federal elections of 13 June 2010, not to vote for "Flemish swiss parties", the group published an open letter of protest, co-signed by, among others, film director Jan Verheyen a philosopher Etienne Vermeersch.
Since August 2011, a debate circle has also been established in the mind of the think group with the same name. This enjoys an open debate culture, in the context of the Flemish independence effort. The circle opened on September 29, 2011 with an animated debate on "Islam in Flanders," which included Filip Dewinter (Flemish Importance) and Abu Imran (Sharia4Belgium). Externe link
wiki
