Belgian voters handed victory to the conservative Flemish nationalist party, preliminary results showed on Sunday, reversing earlier polls that had predicted a sweep for the Flemish separatists.
The New Flanders Alliance, a party seeking greater autonomy for the Dutch-speaking northern half of Belgium, is expected to become the country’s largest party in national elections.
If the final tally is confirmed, the results will bring solace to the country’s political establishment, which has long been preparing for a victory for far-right party Vlaams Belang.
On Sunday evening, with more than 70% of the country’s votes counted, the New Flemish Alliance was expected to receive 22% of the national vote, with Vlaams Belang trailing with 17%.
“Friends, we won this election! Admit it, you didn’t expect this,” New Flanders leader Bart de Wever told supporters gathered in Brussels.
“The polls are terrible,” he added. “The comments in the media were harsh. Our obituaries were written. But you never gave up.
A victory for Vlaams Belang (“Flemish Interest Party”) would put mainstream parties in trouble that have vowed not to cooperate with the separatist, staunchly anti-immigration party.
A strong performance by Vlaams Belang, which would still represent significant progress compared to the 2019 elections, would make political isolation difficult to enforce. Its rise comes as far-right parties across Europe surge in the European Parliament elections, which also end on Sunday.
Belgium is a prosperous Nordic country with a population of approximately 11 million people and is home to EU institutions and the NATO headquarters in the capital, Brussels. The country is divided along linguistic lines into the French-speaking Wallonia region in the south and the Flemish-speaking north (Flanders in Dutch). It is also home to a large immigrant community, including Muslims of North African descent.
The country has long overcome the linguistic divide through a federal system that grants its unique regions broad freedoms and autonomy. The New Flanders Alliance, a more moderate Flemish nationalist party than the Flanders Party, is expected to become the country’s largest party, so calls for more autonomy for Flanders could determine post-election negotiations.
The new Flemish Union wants to negotiate far-reaching reforms to Belgium’s government system to further increase regional autonomy. This was not enough for the Flanders Party and its leader Tom van Glicken, who made it clear that the party’s call for Flanders independence was more than just talk. Flams Béran wanted to break up Belgium and turn Flanders into an independent country.
However, it is far from certain that the two Flemish nationalist parties will join forces. All other Belgian parties have long vowed never to govern with Frams Béran, which could still cost him power at the national level.
In a unique effort to accommodate regional differences, Belgium has created a complex national structure that makes voting a multi-layered task. Election Day means filling, directly or indirectly, no fewer than six parliamentary seats and launching negotiations to form a six-nation government.
With Wallonia traditionally leaning to the left and Flanders to the right, political forces have long struggled to unite across the country, and a multiparty federal government took months or even more than a year to form.
The 2019 elections also brought a surge in the Flemish population, making negotiations more difficult than ever; Belgium has been without a formal government for nearly two years. This time, the greater success of far-right parties has further narrowed the political center.
