View source for Workers' Party of Belgium

{{Distinguish||text=[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Partij van de Arbeid]], a Dutch [[social democratic]] party with the same abbrevation in Dutch}}
{{Infobox political party
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| name             = Workers' Party of Belgium
| native_name      = Partij van de Arbeid van België<br>Parti du travail de Belgique<br>Partei der Arbeit Belgiens
| logo             = [[File:Workers' Party of Belgium logo (2022, French).svg|160px]]<br />[[File:Workers' Party of Belgium logo (2022, Dutch).svg|160px]]
| abbreviation     = {{hlist|PTB|PVDA|PAB}}
| founder          = [[Ludo Martens]]
| president        = [[Raoul Hedebouw]]
| leader1_title    = Vice President
| leader1_name     = [[David Pestieau]]
| leader2_title    = National Secretary
| leader2_name     = [[Peter Mertens]]
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1979}}
| predecessor      = {{ill|All Power To The Workers|nl|Alle Macht Aan De Arbeiders}}
| headquarters     = Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier / Maurice Lemonnierlaan 171<br />1000, [[Brussels]]
| student_wing     = [[Comac (youth movement)|Comac]]
| womens_wing      = [[:nl:Zelle (vrouwenbeweging)|Zelle]]
| youth_wing       = [[:nl:RedFox|RedFox]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=RedFox |url=https://nl.redfox.be/ |access-date=25 January 2022 |website=nl.redfox.be |language=NL}}</ref>
| newspaper        = ''Solidaire / Solidair''
| membership_year  = 2023
| membership       = {{increase}} 26,000<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verschelden |first=Wouter |date=2023-01-01 |title=Raoul Hedebouw (PVDA) gelooft ook in Vlaanderen in een doorbraak voor hem, en viseert Conner Rousseau: "Wat voor gedoe is dat, om heel de tijd de N-VA achterna te lopen?" |url=https://businessam.be/kerstgesprekken-raoul-hedebouw-pvda/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Business AM |language=nl-BE}}</ref>
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[Marxism]]
 |[[Socialism]]
}}
| position         = {{Nowrap|[[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]] to [[Far-left politics|far-left]]}}
| international    = [[International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties|IMCWP]]
| european         = [[Party of the European Left]]<ref>https://www.european-left.org/el-expands-strengthens-cooperation/</ref>
| europarl         = [[The Left in the European Parliament]]
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q925616 -->
| seats1_title     = [[Belgian Chamber of Representatives|Chamber of Representatives]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[Belgian Senate|Senate]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house}}
| seats3_title     = [[Flemish Parliament]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|4|124|{{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[Walloon Parliament]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|10|75|{{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Brussels Parliament]]
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|11|89|{{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[Parliament of the French Community]]
| seats6           = {{Composition bar|13|94|{{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| seats7_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats7           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats8_title     = [[Benelux Parliament]]
| seats8           = {{Composition bar|2|21|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| colours          = {{Color box|#EF4135|border=silver}} Red<br />{{Color box|{{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}|border=silver}} Dark red (customary)
| website          = {{hlist|{{URL|http://www.ptb.be}}|{{URL|http://www.pvda.be}}|{{URL|international.ptb-pvda.be}}}}
| country          = Belgium
}}

The '''Workers' Party of Belgium'''{{Efn|{{langx|fr|Parti du travail de Belgique}}, {{IPA|fr|paʁti dy tʁavaj də bɛlʒik|pron}}, '''PTB'''; {{langx|nl|Partij van de Arbeid van België}}, {{IPA|nl|pɑrˈtɛi vɑn də ˈʔɑrbɛit vɑm ˈbɛlɣijə|pron}}, '''PVDA'''; {{literally|Labour Party of Belgium}}}} ('''PTB-PVDA''') is a [[Marxism|Marxist]]{{refn|<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gomez |first1=Raul |title=Radical left voters in Western Europe |date=2023 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |isbn=9781000728576 |url=https://www.routledge.com/Radical-Left-Voters-in-Western-Europe/Gomez-Ramiro/p/book/9781032303901}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vandenberghe |first1=Maxime |title=Power-Sharing and the Paradox of Federalism: Federalization and the Evolution of Ethno-Territorial Conflict in the Case of Belgium (1979–2018) |journal=Ethnopolitics |date=3 May 2022 |volume=22 |issue=5 |pages=485–506 |doi=10.1080/17449057.2022.2045828|doi-access=free |hdl=1854/LU-8752231 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>}} and [[Socialism|socialist]]{{refn|<ref name="Nordsieck">{{Cite web |last=Nordsieck |first=Wolfram |date=2019 |title=Belgium |url=http://parties-and-elections.eu/belgium.html |website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Feargus |title=Brussels' Plan for Car-Free Streets Hits a Few Bumps |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-17/brussels-good-move-traffic-plan-to-ban-cars-in-city-center |access-date=27 December 2022 |work=Bloomberg |date=17 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hope |first1=Alan |title=Flemish parliament resolves to fight LGBTQI+ discrimination |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/169829/flemish-parliament-resolves-to-fight-lgbtqi-discrimination-equal-rigts-research-reports-david-polfliet |access-date=27 December 2022 |work=The Brussels Times |date=2021-05-17 |language=en}}</ref>}} [[political parties in Belgium|political party]] in [[Belgium]]. It is the only Belgian party represented in parliament that is a fully national party, representing both [[Flanders]] and [[Wallonia]]. Having historically been a small party, the PTB-PVDA has gained momentum since the 2010s, continuously scoring better at the elections, particularly in Wallonia and working-class communities in [[Brussels]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Cerulus |first=Laurens |date=2 January 2017 |title=The party that's pulling the Belgian left to the left |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-party-pulling-belgian-left-to-the-left-workers-party-ptb-raoul-hedebouw/ |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Socialism Today – The rise of the Workers' Party of Belgium |url=http://www.socialismtoday.org/177/belgium.html |website=www.socialismtoday.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2018 |title=Radical left makes breakthrough in Belgium |url=https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/radical-left-makes-breakthrough-belgium |website=Green Left Weekly}}</ref> It has 2 [[Members of the European Parliament|MEPs]] that sit in [[The Left in the European Parliament|The Left group]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/2019-european-elections/belgium/|title=Belgium|website=POLITICO|date=16 February 2022}}</ref> alongside other socialist parties.

== History ==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2017}}
{{update section|date=January 2025}}
The Workers' Party of Belgium originated in the student movement at the end of the 1960s. Students (organized in the student union ''SVB'' – ''Studenten VakBeweging''), mainly from the [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|Catholic University of Leuven]], turned towards the working-class movement. They considered the politics of the existing [[Communist Party of Belgium]] to be [[Marxist revisionism|revisionist]], i.e. too much turned toward social-democratic politics (represented in Belgium by the [[Belgian Socialist Party]]). They were influenced by the ideas of the [[Chinese Communist Party]], [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] movements in [[Latin America]], the movement against the [[Vietnam War]], and the [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)#Split (1962–1970)|Leuven-Vlaams]] movement, all perceived as aspects of a worldwide struggle against colonial or [[Neocolonialism|neocolonial]] oppression and for civil or workers' rights.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Their support and participation in an important strike in the coalmines turned the movement into a political party. They founded a periodical, AMADA (''Alle Macht Aan De Arbeiders'' – All Power To The Workers), which became the first name of their party. In 1979 the first congress was held, which adopted a [[Maoist]] programme and changed the name into PVDA-PTB. [[Ludo Martens]] became the first president, and remained an important ideologist of the party until his death in 2011.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The PTB-PVDA used to host the [[International Communist Seminar]] until 2014 which had become one of the main worldwide gatherings of [[communism|communist]] parties.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Following its electoral defeat in 2003, the PVDA-PTB fundamentally changed its working methods and communication. On one hand, the PVDA-PTB said it would refocus on working with factory workers as well as on field work in the communities where it operates. On the other hand, the PVDA-PTB said it would officially break with what it calls its sectarian past to get closer to the concrete demands of citizens. This is reflected particularly by the demands put forward on very concrete issues, e.g. lower prices for [[pharmaceutical drug|medication]], the reduction of [[Value added tax|VAT]] on energy products from 21% to 6%, an increase of the minimum [[pension]], better control of [[renting|rents]] or the lower cost of trash bags.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

In preparation for the [[2007 Belgian general election|Belgian elections of June 2007]], the ''Solidarity'' newspaper and the website of the party were merged in order to reach a wider public. The structures have also been "open" to a broader layer of activists.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

On 2 March 2008, the work of the Eighth [[Party congress|Congress]] of the PVDA-PTB was completed with a closing meeting at the [[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]]. This Congress was conducted with the theme of "party renewal." A new Central Committee was elected, which in turn elected a new Bureau of the Party.{{cn|date=October 2024}} 

[[File:Workers Party of Belgium propaganda in Brussels.jpg|thumb|Campaign poster in Brussels in 2008]]
This 'shift' seems to have produced some positive results, such as an increase in membership and a rebound of the electoral score of the PVDA-PTB in recent elections. The last elections in May 2019 showed more progress: a breakthrough was realised at the Flemish and European level. Since 2018 the party is also represented in the municipal councils of larger cities in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

In September 2014, the party had more than 8,000 members, in 2020 the number had grown to 20,000. 

== Ideology and positions ==
{{Expand section|date=September 2022}}
The party is variously described as [[Socialism|socialist]] and/or [[Marxist]], with sources also variously describing it as [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]{{refn|<ref name="Freedom House">{{cite book |author1=Freedom House |title=Freedom in the world. 2019 : the annual survey of political rights & civil liberties |date=2020 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781538134573 |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=124}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dotti |first=Nicola Francesco |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-a1oDwAAQBAJ |title=Knowledge, Policymaking and Learning for European Cities and Regions |date=31 August 2018 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1786433640 |page=100}}</ref><ref name="France 24, Oct 2018">{{Cite web |date=15 October 2018 |title=Greens make historic gains in Belgium local elections |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20181015-greens-make-historic-gains-belgium-local-election |website=France 24 |quote=The election’s other big winner in the Belgian capital was the leftwing Workers Party (PTB/PvdA), especially in the city’s former industrial districts.}}</ref><ref name="Euractiv, May 2024">{{cite news |date= 6 May 2024 |title= Belgium's far right struggles to break through media ban |url= https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/belgiums-far-right-struggles-to-break-through-media-ban/ |work= Euractiv |access-date= 25 October 2024 |quote= Raoul Hedebouw, head of the left-wing Workers' Party of Belgium, offered another view.}}</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera, Aug 2019">{{cite news |last= Paleologos |first= Nick |date= 10 August 2019 |title= Overcoming prejudice, poverty and 'Molenbeekphobia' in Brussels |url= https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2019/8/10/overcoming-prejudice-poverty-and-molenbeekphobia-in-brussels |work= Al Jazeera |access-date= 25 October 2024}}</ref>}} or [[far-left]].{{refn|<ref name="Rosalux">{{Cite web |last=Biver |first=Nico |date=10 May 2024 |title=The Inexorable Rise of the Belgian Workers' Party |url=https://rosalux.eu/en/2024/english-the-inexorable-rise-of-the-belgian-workers-party/ |website=Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung}}</ref><ref name="Deutsche Welle">{{Cite web |date=9 June 2024 |title=Belgium: National vote amid rise of far-right and far-left |url=https://www.dw.com/en/belgium-national-vote-amid-rise-of-far-right-and-far-left/a-69313825 |website=Deutsche Welle}}</ref><ref name="Politico">{{Cite web |date=2 Jan 2017 |title=The party that's pulling the Belgian left to the left |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-party-pulling-belgian-left-to-the-left-workers-party-ptb-raoul-hedebouw |website=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nielsen |first=Nikolaj |date=25 May 2019 |title=Belgium votes in hybrid EU-national election |work=[[EUobserver]] |location=Brussels |url=https://euobserver.com/political/144986 |access-date=27 May 2020 |quote=Among the new hopefuls for its 21 seats in the European Parliament is Marc Botenga, a Walloon from the far left Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dorpe |first1=Simon |last2=Cerulus |first2=Laurens |last3=Cokelaere |first3=Hanne |date=27 May 2019 |title=Far-right surge in triple election shocks Belgium |work=Politico (Europe edition) |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-far-right-surge-elections-2019/ |access-date=27 May 2020 |quote=The far-left Workers' Party is set to win big across the country too, winning around 8 percent of votes nationally.}}</ref>}} It is the furthest left party represented in the [[Belgian Federal Parliament]].

The party advocates for strengthening workers' rights, increasing pensions, and decreasing the retirement age to 65, and supports expanding social programs and the welfare state. It supports increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-party-pulling-belgian-left-to-the-left-workers-party-ptb-raoul-hedebouw/ | title=The party that's pulling the Belgian left to the left | date=2 January 2017}}</ref> It is opposed to austerity and [[neoliberalism]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}

A central part of the party's program is the "social climate revolution", which seeks to combat both climate change and social inequality.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ptb.be/le_ptb_pr_sente_son_plan_pour_une_r_volution_climatique_sociale | title=Le PTB présente son plan pour une révolution climatique sociale|website=www.ptb.be|language=fr }}</ref> 

Although the party is in favor of greater ecological policies, the party has been in opposition to restrictions on individual car use, including opposing low emissions zones in [[Antwerp]] city center,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20170425_02851767 | title=Groen clasht met PVDA over LEZ: 'U bewijst dat u gezondheid toch niet zo belangrijk vindt' |date=25 April 2017 |work=[[Gazet van Antwerpen]]|language=nl}}</ref> paid parking in [[Schaerbeek]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://schaerbeek.ptb.be/nos_amis_ont_le_droit_de_nous_rendre_visite_sans_devoir_payer_pour_se_garer_onze_vrienden_hebben_het_recht_om_ons_te_bezoeken_zonder_dat_ze_hoeven_te_betalen_om_te_parkeren | title=Nos amis ont le droit de nous rendre visite sans devoir payer pour se garer ! Onze vrienden hebben het recht om ons te bezoeken zonder dat ze hoeven te betalen om te parkeren! | date=4 January 2020|website=schaerbeek.ptb.be }}</ref> and increased fines for illegal parking in [[Liège]]. Despite this, the party also advocates for expanding public transit and making public transit free.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Elected representatives and full-time staff observe a pay cap indexed to the wages of a "skilled worker", and the excess is donated to the party.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rosalux.eu/en/2024/english-the-inexorable-rise-of-the-belgian-workers-party/ |work=[[Rosa Luxemburg Foundation]] Brussels Office |date=10 May 2024 |title=The Inexorable Rise of the Belgian Workers' Party |first=Nico |last=Biver |access-date=18 October 2024 }}</ref>

=== Foreign policy ===
The party abstained from the vote condemning the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in the [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]]. According to PTB MP [[Nabil Boukili]], "the diplomatic way is the only possible way to avoid a war". Party spokesman [[Raoul Hedebouw]] said he condemns the invasion of Ukraine but does not think [[NATO]] should be part of the solution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Chambre condamne la guerre en Ukraine, le PTB s'abstient |url=https://www.uat.rtbf.be/article/la-chambre-condamne-la-guerre-en-ukraine-le-ptb-s-abstient-10957678 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=RTBF |language=fr}}</ref>

According to political scientist [[Steven Van Hecke]], in terms of foreign policy, parties such as the PVDA have both a [[pacifism|pacifist]] and a socioeconomic agenda. For its socioeconomic aganda the PVDA often looks back nostalgically to Soviet [[communism]], where the emphasis was on respect for the working class and rejection of [[capitalism|market capitalism]]. Radical opposition parties tend to be dogmatic and reluctant to change course, according to Van Hecke, because they like to present themselves as principled. For example the PVDA has difficulty distancing itself from the [[People's Republic of China]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/03/02/we-veroordelen-de-inval-in-oekraine-maar-of-hoe-extreemre/|title="We veroordelen de inval in Oekraïne, maar...": of hoe extreemrechts en extreemlinks elkaar tegenkomen|publisher=VRT NWS|date= March 3, 2022|language=nl}}</ref>

=== Historical ===
Historically the party supported [[Marxism–Leninism]]<ref name="rtbf">{{Cite web |last=Walkowiak |first=Philippe |date=12 June 2019 |title=La Wallonie face à Mao, sauce lapin |url=https://www.rtbf.be/info/article/detail_la-wallonie-face-a-mao-sauce-lapin-philippe-walkowiak?id=10244176 |website=RTBF}}</ref> and [[Maoism]], although the party dropped references to Lenin and Mao, as well as references to other communist party governments, in the late 2000s and early 2010s.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Delwit |first1=Pascal |year=2022 |title=The Labor Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA): A Modern Radical Left Party? |journal=Frontiers in Political Science |volume=4 |doi=10.3389/fpos.2022.862949 |doi-access=free|hdl=2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/343432 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Political scientist [[Pascal Delwit]] claimed in 2014 that the PVDA still maintains a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] line internally, but not to the outside world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/politicoloog-delwit-onthult-ware-gelaat-extreemlinks-pvda-danst-op-twee-benen~b5788ce9/|title=Politicoloog Delwit onthult ware gelaat extreemlinks: "PVDA danst op twee benen"|publisher=De Morgen|date=21 March 2014|language=nl}}</ref>

== Organisations ==
Its monthly publication "''Solidaire'' / ''Solidair''" has between 3,000 and 5,000 subscribers. [[Comac (youth movement)|COMAC]], The party's student movement, is active in all the universities in Belgium and in secondary schools (in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels). The PTB is responsible for {{Ill|Medicine for the People|nl|Geneeskunde voor het Volk|fr|Médecine pour le Peuple}}, through which it runs 11 health centres which provide free access to primary health care.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Joe |date=2025-05-21 |title=A four point plan for a Democratic Socialist Party |url=https://prometheusjournal.org/2025/05/21/a-four-point-plan-for-a-democratic-socialist-party/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Prometheus |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=50 ans de Médecine pour le Peuple : « Pour changer le monde, il faut avoir les gens avec nous » |url=https://www.solidaire.org/articles/50-ans-de-medecine-pour-le-peuple-pour-changer-le-monde-il-faut-avoir-les-gens-avec-nous |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Solidaire |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Médecine pour le Peuple – Accueil |url=http://gvhv-mplp.be/index.php/fr/ |website=Médecine pour le Peuple}}</ref>

The newspaper ''Solidarity'', and Medicine for the People organize "ManiFiesta", a yearly festival of solidarity between the communities and the left in Belgium. The first edition was held in [[Bredene]] (by the sea) on 25 September 2010 and brought together 6,000 people from both North and South of Belgium. The fourth edition in 2013 attracted 10,000 people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 23, 2012 |title=Met 8.000 op ManiFiesta 2012 |url=https://www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2012/09/23/met-8-000-op-manifiesta-2012/ |publisher=[[DeWereldMorgen]] |language=nl}}</ref>

==Election results==
The [[2007 Belgian general election|general elections of 2007]] saw the party obtaining 0.88% in the Flemish [[electoral district]] and 0.81% in [[Wallonia]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}

In the [[2009 Belgian regional elections|regional elections in 2009]], the PVDA-PTB gained 1.04% of the vote in Flanders (+0.48%) and 1.24% of the vote in Wallonia (+0.62%). For the [[2009 European Parliament election in Belgium|European elections]] on the same day, the results were: 0.98% in the [[Dutch-speaking electoral college]] (+0.37%) and 1.16% in the [[French-speaking electoral college]] (+0.35%).{{cn|date=October 2024}}

In the [[2010 Belgian general election|general elections of June 2010]], the party saw further growth. In Flanders it now represents 1.3% (+0.4%) of the votes for the [[Belgian Chamber of Representatives|Chamber of Representatives]] and 1.4% (+0.5%) for the [[Belgian Senate|Senate]]. Especially in the cities progress was noted with high scores in Antwerp (4.1%) and Liège (4.2%). The highest scores were gained in the [[Cantons of Belgium|cantons]] of Herstal (9.8%), Assenede (7.5%) and Seraing (7.3%); all places where the PVDA-PTB traditionally is strong.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The [[2012 Belgian provincial and municipal elections|municipal and provincial elections in 2012]] were considered a breakthrough on a local level for the PVDA-PTB. The party won 52 seats in total; 31 in municipal councils, 4 in provincial councils, and 17 in the [[Districts of Antwerp|district councils]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The [[2014 Belgian federal election|federal]] and [[2014 Belgian regional elections|regional elections]] in 2014 saw further success for the party. They elected two deputies to the [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resultats>Chambre |url=http://elections2014.lesoir.be/result/federal |access-date=28 May 2014 |website=[[Le Soir]] }}</ref> two others to the [[Walloon Parliament]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resultats>Parlement Wallon |url=http://elections2014.lesoir.be/result/wallonia |access-date=28 May 2014 |website=[[Le Soir]] }}</ref> and finally four to the [[Brussels Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resultats> Parlement Bruxellois |url=http://elections2014.lesoir.be/result/brussels |access-date=28 May 2014 |website=[[Le Soir]] }}</ref>
[[File:Workers Party of Belgium logo dutch.png|thumb|upright|Previous logo of the Workers' Party, showing the party's previous slogan which translates to "People Before Profit".]]
An [[Opinion polling for the next Belgian federal election#Wallonia|opinion poll released in July 2017]] suggested the party was the most popular party in [[Wallonia]] at the time, with 25% of respondents indicating they intended to vote for the party. The second-most popular party was the [[Mouvement Réformateur]], part of the governing coalition, with 23%. The poll indicated that the Workers' Party would win 26 seats in the Belgian [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]] if the next federal election were held immediately, putting it in tied first place with the Flemish [[New Flemish Alliance|N-VA]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 2017 |title=La fusée PTB dans la stratosphère, le Parti socialiste s'écrase totalement |url=http://www.lecho.be/dossier/crisepolitique/La-fusee-PTB-dans-la-stratosphere-le-Parti-socialiste-s-ecrase-totalement/9909918|publisher=[[L'Echo]]}}</ref>

The party generally increased its vote share in the [[2018 Belgian local elections|2018 local elections]], and won over 15% of the vote in several French-speaking cities.<ref>[https://www.rtbf.be/info/regions/detail_le-ptb-ferait-une-belle-percee-a-charleroi-et-la-louviere?id=10045887 Le PTB ferait un "belle percée" dans les villes en Wallonie] RTBF, Retrieved 15 October 2018. In French.</ref>

In the [[2019 Belgian federal election]], the party scored well and gained 10 seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belgium Worker's Party obtains excellent results in federal, regional and European elections |url=http://www.fightbacknews.org/2019/5/27/belgium-worker-s-party-obtains-excellent-results-federal-regional-and-european-elections |website=Fight Back! News|date=27 May 2019 }}</ref> The party did well in Wallonia (13.8% overall there), scoring over 16% in [[Liège Province]], over 15% in [[Hainaut Province]], and also over 12% in Brussels-Capital Region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elections 2019 – PTB*PVDA |url=https://www.rtl.be/elections2019/Parti/1/10/0/132024 |website=www.rtl.be}}</ref> It achieved at least 22% of the votes in both [[Charleroi]] and [[La Louvière]] cities. Its strongest showing in Flanders was 12.71% in [[Antwerp]] city, while in Wallonia, it's strongest showing was in [[Herstal]] with 27.55% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=mai 2019 |first=Rédaction en ligne-26 |title=Les résultats électoraux du PTB |url=https://www.ptb.be/resultats2019 |website=PTB}}</ref> The PTB was also the fourth largest party in the [[2019 European Parliament election|European election the same day]] in the Francophone areas, winning 14.59% and giving it one seat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DH.be |date=27 May 2019 |title=Voici vos nouveaux élus dans la région de Charleroi |url=https://www.dhnet.be/regions/charleroi/voici-vos-nouveaux-elus-dans-la-region-de-charleroi-5ceb9e909978e223b1fac2fe |website=www.dhnet.be}}</ref>

===Chamber of Representatives===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[1991 Belgian general election|1991]]
| 30,491
| 0.5
| {{Composition bar|0|212|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| 
| {{eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}}
|-
! [[1995 Belgian general election|1995]]
| 34,247
| 0.6
| {{Composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}}
|-
! [[1999 Belgian general election|1999]]
| 30,930
| 0.5
| {{Composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}}
|-
! [[2003 Belgian general election|2003]]
| 20,825
| 0.2
| {{Composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}}
|-
! [[2007 Belgian general election|2007]]
| 56,167
| 0.8
| {{Composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}}
|-
! [[2010 Belgian general election|2010]]
| 101,088	
| 1.6
| {{Composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extra-parliamentary}}
|-
! [[2014 Belgian federal election|2014]]
| 251,289
| 3.7
| {{Composition bar|2|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 Belgian federal election|2019]]
| 584,458
| 8.6
| {{Composition bar|12|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 10
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2024 Belgian federal election|2024]]
| 688,369
| 9.9
| {{Composition bar|15|150|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|}

===Senate===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
|-
! [[2003 Belgian general election|2003]]
| 18,699
| 0.1
| {{Composition bar|0|40|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| 
|-
! [[2007 Belgian general election|2007]]
| 54,807
| 0.8
| {{Composition bar|0|40|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2010 Belgian general election|2010]]
| 105,060	
| 1.6
| {{Composition bar|0|40|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|}

===Regional===
====Brussels Parliament====
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! rowspan=2| Election
! colspan=2| {{abbr|F.E.C.|French-speaking electoral college}}
! colspan=2| {{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch-speaking electoral college}}
! colspan=3| Seats
! rowspan=2| +/-
! rowspan=2| Government
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
! Total
! {{abbr|F.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}}
! {{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}}
|-
! [[2004 Belgian regional elections|2004]]
| 2,221   
| 0.6
|
|
| {{Composition bar|0|89|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
|
| 
|
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2009 Belgian regional elections|2009]]
| 4,038   
| 0.9
|
|
| {{Composition bar|0|89|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
|
|
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2014 Belgian regional elections|2014]]
| 15,782
| 3.9
|
|
| {{Composition bar|4|89|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
|
|
| {{increase}} 4
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 Belgian regional elections|2019]]
| 52,297
| 13.47
| 2,992
| 4.27
| {{Composition bar|11|89|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{Composition bar|10|72|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{Composition bar|1|17|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 7
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2024 Belgian regional elections|2024]]
| 81,542
| 20.92
| 5,619
| 6.99
| {{Composition bar|16|89|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{Composition bar|15|72|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{Composition bar|1|17|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{TBA}}
|}

====Flemish Parliament====
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[2004 Belgian regional elections|2004]]
| 22,874
| 0.6
| {{Composition bar|0|124|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| 
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2009 Belgian regional elections|2009]]
| 42,849
| 1.0
| {{Composition bar|0|124|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2014 Belgian regional elections|2014]]
| 106,114
| 2.5
| {{Composition bar|0|124|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2019 Belgian regional elections|2019]]
| 225,593
| 5.3
| {{Composition bar|4|124|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2024 Belgian regional elections#Flemish Parliament|2024]]
| 364,070
| 8.3
| {{Composition bar|9|124|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 5
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|}

====Walloon Parliament====
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[2004 Belgian regional elections|2004]]
| 12,216
| 0.6
| {{Composition bar|0|75|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| 
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2009 Belgian regional elections|2009]]
| 24,875 
| 1.2
| {{Composition bar|0|75|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| {{eliminated|Extraparliamentary}}
|-
! [[2014 Belgian regional elections|2014]]
| 117,500
| 5.7
| {{Composition bar|2|75|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 Belgian regional elections|2019]]
| 278,343
| 13.7
| {{Composition bar|10|75|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 8
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2024 Belgian regional elections|2024]]
| 250,146
| 12.1
| {{Composition bar|8|75|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{No2|Opposition}}
|}

===European Parliament===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! List leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/-
! EP Group
|-
! [[1984 European Parliament election in Belgium|1984]]
| ''Unclear''
| 43,637
| 0.76
| {{Composition bar|0|24|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| New
| rowspan=7 |-
|-
! [[1989 European Parliament election in Belgium|1989]]
| ''Unclear''
| 29,778
| 0.50
| {{Composition bar|0|24|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[1994 European Parliament election in Belgium|1994]]
| ''Unclear''
| 59,270
| 0.99
| {{Composition bar|0|25|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in Belgium|1999]]{{efn|Only PVDA took part in the election.}}
| ''Unclear''
| 22,038 
| 0.36
| {{Composition bar|0|25|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Belgium|2004]]
| David Pestieau {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}<br/>Kris Merckx {{small|({{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}})}}
| 44,452  
| 0.68
| {{Composition bar|0|24|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Belgium|2009]]
| [[Raoul Hedebouw]] {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}<br/>[[Peter Mertens]] {{small|({{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}})}}
| 68,540  
| 1.04
| {{Composition bar|0|22|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Belgium|2014]]
| Aurélie Decoene {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}<br/>Tim Joye {{small|({{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}})}}
| 234,718
| 3.51
| {{Composition bar|0|22|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Belgium|2019]]
| [[Marc Botenga]] {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}<br/>Line De Witte {{small|({{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}})}}
| 566,274
| 8.41
| {{Composition bar|1|21|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| [[European United Left/Nordic Green Left|GUE/NGL]]
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in Belgium|2024]]
| [[Marc Botenga]] {{small|({{abbr|F.E.C.|French electoral college}})}}<br/>[[Rudi Kennes]] {{small|({{abbr|D.E.C.|Dutch electoral college}})}}
| 763,340
| 10.70
| {{Composition bar|2|22|hex={{party color|Workers' Party of Belgium}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| [[The Left in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL|The Left]]
|}
{{Notelist}}

==Elected politicians==
'''European deputies'''
* 2024 – present:
#[[Marc Botenga]]
#[[Rudi Kennes]]

'''Federal deputies'''
* 2019 – 2024:
#[[Nabil Boukili]]
#[[Gaby Colebunders]]
#[[Roberto d'Amico (politician)|Roberto d'Amico]]
#[[Greet Daems]]
#[[Steven De Vuyst]]
#[[Raoul Hedebouw]]
#[[Sofie Merckx]]	
#[[Peter Mertens]]
#[[Nadia Moscufo]]	
#[[Marco Van Hees]]
#[[Maria Vindevoghel]]
#[[Thierry Warmoes]]

'''Regional deputies'''
* 2019 – 2024:
*Brussels
#[[Jan Busselen]]
#[[Francis Dagrin]]
#[[Caroline De Bock]]
#[[Françoise De Smedt]]
#[[Elisa Groppi]]
#[[Youssef Handichi]]
#[[Jean-Pierre Kerckhofs]]
#[[Stéphanie Koplowicz]]	
#[[Leila Lahssaini]]	
#[[Petya Obolensky]]
#[[Luc Vancauwenberghe]]

*Flanders
#[[Jos D'Haese]]
#[[Onno Vandewalle]]
#[[Kim De Witte]]
#[[Lise Vandecasteele]]

*Wallonia
#[[Alice Bernard]]
#[[John Beugnies]]
#[[Jori Dupont]]
#[[Antoine Hermant]]
#[[Laure Lekane]]
#[[Julien Liradelfo]]	
#[[Germain Mugemangango]]
#[[Samuel Nemes]]
#[[Amandine Pavet]]
#[[Anouk Vandevoorde]]

'''Provincial councilors''' 
* 2018 – 2024:
# {{flagicon|Liège}} [[Catharina Craen]]
# {{flagicon|Hainaut}} [[Giovanni Dell'Area]]
# {{flagicon|Liège}} [[Marc Delrez]]
# {{flagicon|Liège}} [[Catherine Lacomble]]
# {{flagicon|Liège}} [[Luc Navet]]
# {{flagicon|Liège}} [[Rafik Rassâa]]
# {{flagicon|Liège}} [[Marie-Christine Scheen]]
# {{flagicon|Antwerp}} [[Rudy Sohier]]
# {{flagicon|Hainaut}} [[Luc Vandenameele]]
# {{flagicon|Namur}} [[Patricia Van Muylder]]

== Notes ==
{{Noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website|http://www.pvda.be/ }} {{in lang|nl|fr}}
*[http://statutsptb.blogspot.be/ Statuts du PTB (French)]

{{Belgian political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1979 establishments in Belgium]]
[[Category:Marxist parties]]
[[Category:Socialist parties in Belgium]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1979]]
[[Category:International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties]]