The Flemish separatist party N-VA is likely to make large gains in the Belgian election on June 13, Reuters quoted an opinion poll published today as forecasting. The poll for public broadcaster VRT and newspaper De Standaard was carried out between May 21 and June 1. Belgium in effect holds two separate elections in Dutch-speaking Flanders and among French-speakers in Wallonia and Brussels, and a ruling coalition is typically formed to represent majorities in each region. The last government comprised the Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V), the Flemish liberals (Open VLD) and French-speaking parties MR (liberals), PS (Socialists) and CdH (Humanist Democratic Centre). The Flemish parties in 2007 received 88 seats and the French-speaking parties 62. FLANDERS 04/06 27/05 04/05 2007 vote N-VA 25.2 26 22.9 - * CD&V 19.0 19.5 18.9 29.6* OpenVLD 13.9 12.4 14.8 18.8 SP.A 13.8 16 14.2 16.3 Groen 8.2 7.8 7.9 6.3 Vlaams Belang 11.5 10.3 12.5 19.0 Lijst Dedecker 6.6 5.4 3.9 6.5 * In the 2007 election, CD&V and N-VA were in alliance Parties: N-VA (Flemish separatist New Flemish Alliance), CD&V (Christian Democrats), Open VLD (Liberals), SP.A (Socialists), Groen (Greens) Vlaams Belang (far-right Flemish separatist party), Lijst Dedecker (Flemish separatists) WALLONIA 04/05 2007 vote PS 32.5 29.5 MR 21.1 31.2 CdH 18.2 15.8 Ecolo 17.6 12.8 Front National 2.9 5.6 PS (Socialists), MR (centre-right Liberals), CdH (Humanist Democratic Centre, similar to Christian Democrats), Ecolo (Greens), Front National (far right)
