BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgians vote in a parliamentary election today for a government that could move towards breaking up the country and that will need to curb the third-highest debt ratio in Europe.
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. 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.
The party’s lead in opinion polls has triggered a nationwide debate about the possible break-up of the 180-year-old nation, with Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia going their separate ways.
“The Belgians play with their future,” said francophone newspaper La Libre Belgique yesterday.
