euro|topics - Christian-democrats back in Belgium

Main focus of Monday, June 11, 2007

Christian-democrats back in Belgium

The legislative elections held in Belgium on Sunday, June 10th, saw the clear victory of the Christian-democrats who, after eight years in the opposition, have high hopes of leading the next government coalition. The negotiations that have just begun could well lead to Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-democrats, being named the next Belgian Prime Minister.

De Morgen - Belgium

The editorialist Yves Desmet considers that "the tendency in the Flanders region is clearly more rooted in the right [than in French-speaking Belgium]. Not so much through the presence of Vlaams Belang [Flemish far-right party] that is in recession. Even in the big towns, that party is in recession compared to 2003. This is already the second time that a magical rise has been cut short. One factor that explains this is the appeal of Jean-Marie Dedecker, who pulled off an electoral exploit following the Dutch example [of the Geert Wilders populist party], representing the capricious voters. 'The deep Flanders region' is hoisting its flag. We are paying them all due attention, but not without first saluting a government and Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, that have been far from the worst this country has known." (11/06/2007)

La Voix du Luxembourg - Luxembourg

The editorialist Laurent Moyse notes that in the light of polls leading up to the election "there was no big surprise, apart, perhaps, from the decline of the Flemish socialist votes, that was stronger than expected. In view of the loss of liberals and in keeping with predictions, it seems unlikely that there will be a renewal of the coalition in power composed of socialists of the sp.a/spirit party and the Socialist party on one side and the Open VLD and the MR [reform movement] on the other. Thus a change of government is on the agenda, though it remains to be seen which. Yves Leterme, figure-head of the Flemish christian-democrats whose party [CDV,The Flemish Christian Democrat Party] has managed to win over one in three voters in the North of the country, is in a good position to be entrusted with the mission of forming the next team in power." (11/06/2007)

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

Cornelia Bolesch writes that despite the swerve to the right in its parliamentary elections Belgium is still a model state within Europe. "Why ? Because Europe has no cause to tremble every time Belgium holds its general elections. Because regardless of what the new government in Belgium will look like, it will consist of committed Europeans. Because the Belgian parliament voted in favour of the constitutional treaty with an overwhelming majority. Because both in Flanders and in Wallonia Europe is a fixed concept that is not continually called into question. Because Europe not only takes up a large part of the agenda of most parties, but is also the focus of constructive ideas. And because Belgium's complex internal structure never posed an obstacle to the development of the European Union. (11/06/2007)

Die Presse - Austria

According to Regina Pöll, the results of the elections in Belgium will deepen the division within the country. She predicts that Yves leterme, current prime minister of the region of Flanders and tipped to become the new prime minister of the country, will take more decisive steps in strengthening the autonomy of the two regions than his predecessors. "This will be a thorn in the side of the Francophones of the much poorer southern region of Wallonia, which until now has benefited from the economically more advanced region of Flanders. Separatist tendencies will be reinforced by a series of factors. As well as the Christian Democrats, the separatist Flemish splinter party N-VA also forms part of Leterme's electoral alliance. And the far-right nationalist Vlaams Belang, formerly Vlams Blok, has now become the second-largest force in Flanders in national elections." (11/06/2007)

» To the complete press review of Monday, June 11, 2007

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