In Belgium's Flemish province of East Flanders, the far right won an unprecedented absolute majority in the town of Ninove in October's municipal election. Guy D'haeseleer, who becomes mayor on December 5, insists that newcomers to the town must learn Dutch. "We're going to link knowledge of Dutch to access to social benefits," he tells AFP. Outgoing liberal mayor Tania De Jonge expresses concern over her successor: "We hope that everyone will continue to be treated equally," she says. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES