Belgians voted in a parliamentary election on Sunday for a government that could move towards breaking up the country and one that will need to curb the third-highest debt ratio in Europe, according to Reuters. The Flemish separatist N-VA (New Flemish Alliance), which advocates the gradual dissolution of Belgium, is forecast to be the largest party in Dutch-speaking Flanders and possibly the country. "The ballot box question is not whether but by how much the N-VA will win," said Dutch-language newspaper De Morgen. Electronic voting closed at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT), by when a handful of counts for pencil-and-paper voting, which shut two hours earlier, had returned results. Those in Flanders showed the N-VA with a clear lead, Belgian media said. N-VA leader Bart De Wever may be victorious, but he will not be able to start devolving powers to the regions immediately. The electoral system -- effectively two elections with separate parties seeking votes from French-speakers and the majority Dutch-speakers -- means at least four parties will be needed to form a governing coalition. De Wever has said he is open to a French-speaker -- most likely socialist leader Elio Di Rupo -- becoming prime minister for the first time in 36 years if that would deliver greater autonomy for Flanders. This is the first federal election from which a party advocating the end of Belgium could emerge the winner, although the N-VA were allies of the Christian Democrats in 2007. -- SPA
