Common sense and compromise have triumphed in Belgium

In Belgium the regional parliaments were also elected on Sunday. While in Dutch-speaking Flanders the centre-right parties won, in French-speaking Wallonia the Socialists emerged as the victors. For the first time in decades the right-wing extremist party Vlaams Belang suffered major losses. According to De Morgen despite the division of the country a great sense of relief prevails: "The most important conclusion in these elections is that politics has landed a significant victory against anti-politics. For all the howling about 'post-hunters', 'compromise-makers' and 'the establishment' it was the traditional political parties who between them convincingly managed to attract the lion's share of the votes. In times of crisis Flanders has elected leaders, not adventurers. Common sense, not radical slogans. … Mutual respect, not sterile tirades of abuse. This alone merits a deep sigh of relief."

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