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N-VA in Barack Obama's footsteps

With polling day in sight Belgium's largest political party, the Flemish nationalist N-VA, has announced plans to saturate social media with its message on May 24th, the day before the Belgian and Flemish general election. The party has taken a leaf out of President Obama's book in promising a social media tsunami on that date.

On 24 May Bart De Wever's Flemish nationalists say that they will be omnipresent on social media websites Facebook and Twitter. The party has organised matters to ensure that an identical message is shared by hundreds of individuals at the same time.

Before advertising restrictions took effect three months before the election the N-VA launched a campaign on internet that took the party's likes total on their Facebook page to over 32,000. On Twitter the party now has over 15,000 followers. Paid adverts are not allowed, but the party can still disseminate its message on social media sites.

The N-VA is now asking members and supporters to use the Thunderclap tool to spread the party's word. Users are asked to open their Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr profile to the N-VA message "Do you choose the N-VA model or that of the PS?"

A day after the launch of the appeal 550 people had agreed to put the message on their profile. These 550 people can reach a further 270,000 Flemings on social media. The higher this number rises, the more people that may see the party's message on social media.

Thunderclap is a tool that's been in existence since 2012. It's especially ngos that use it to create interest in stories that otherwise might not reach the headlines. Last year Barack Obama's White House used Thunderclap to promote an action against arms' legislation.

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