BELGIUM'S JUNE 7 REGIONAL ELECTION RESULTS

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000793 SIPDIS STATE PASS EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM'S JUNE 7 REGIONAL ELECTION RESULTS REF: A. BRUSSELS 715 ¶B. BRUSSELS 669 ¶C. BRUSSELS 659 ¶1. Summary: Belgium's June 7 regional elections showed a clear division between the Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels regions. In Flanders the Christian Democrats (CD&V) remain the largest party with 23.1 percent of the vote total. The next three parties, all losing ground from the last regional election in 2004 with about 15 percent each were Vlaams Belang (VB),the Flemish Socialists (sp.a),and the Flemish Liberals (OpenVLD). The moderate Flemish Nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) did well with 13.1 percent of the vote. On the Walloon side, the Socialists (PS) remain the largest party with 33.2 percent, followed by the Liberals (MR) with 22.9 percent, and Greens (Ecolo) with 18.3 percent. In the Brussels Capital Region, the MR was on top with 29.8 percent followed by the PS at 26.2 percent. Ecolo received 20.2 percent of the vote, its best performance ever. It could take a few weeks for regional coalitions to be negotiated. End Summary. ¶2. Flemish Regional Election Results (from De Standaard): Party...Percentage...Seats.....2004 Percent/Seats (124 total) CD&V.......23.1.......31.......26.1/31 (CD&V/N-VA Cartel) VB.........15.3.......21.......24.2/32 sp.a.......15.3.......19.......19.7/19 OpenVLD....15.1.......21.......19.8/25 N-VA.......13.1.......16.......26.1/0 LDD.........7.7........8.......New Party (Lijst Dedecker) Groen!......6.7........7........7.6/6 (Greens) UF..........5.3........1........6.5/1 (Flemish Brabant Only) ¶3. Walloon Regional Election Results (from De Standaard): Party Percentage Seats 2004 Percent/Seats (75 total) PS........32.8........29........36.9/34 MR........23.4........19........24.3/20 Ecolo.....18.5........14.........8.5/3 cdH.......16.2........13........17.6/14 (Christian Democrats) FN.........2.8.........0.........8.1/4 ¶4. Brussels Regional Election Results (from De Standaard and Le Soir): Party Percentage Seats 2004 Percent/Seats (89 total) CD&V......14.9.........3.........16.8/3 OpenVLD...23.0.........4.........19.9/4 VB........17.6.........3.........34.0/6 sp.a......19.4.........4.........17.7/3 Groen!....11.2.........2..........9.8/1 (Greens) N-VA.......5.0.........1..........0.0/0 LDD........3.8.........0..........0.0/0 PS........26.2........21.........33.4/26 MR........29.8........24.........32.5/25 cdH.......14.8........11.........14.0/10 Ecolo.....20.2........16..........9.7/7 FN.........1.9.........0..........5.4/4 ¶5. Comment: Although it will take several weeks for coalitions to form, it would seem that Prime Minister Van Rompuy (CD&V) will not have to make many changes to the makeup of the national government, even though Foreign Minister De Gucht's Flemish Liberals performed poorly. The insurgent parties--Ecolo on the Walloon side and N-VA on the Flemish side--will not likely be offered the chance to join the national government or receive federal ministerial portfolios. They will likely be part of the new regional governments. BUSH .