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Belgium votes in general election PM's coalition ousted in Belgium
(1 day later)
Belgian voters are going to the polls in an election which is likely to see Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt struggle to keep his job after eight years. Belgians have voted to oust the coalition government of centre-right Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt after eight years in power.
But who will replace him is unclear. Up to 10 parties or coalitions have a chance of forming the next government. In the key Dutch-speaking region of Flanders, Flemish Christian Democrats made big gains. With 95% of votes counted, they had 30 of 150 seats.
Mr Verhofstadt has combined business-friendly policies with a liberal attitude on social issues like same-sex marriages and euthanasia. Mr Verhofstadt has conceded defeat and will offer his resignation to King Albert on Monday.
But despite lower taxes and an economic upturn, his popularity has fallen. The Christian Democrats will start lengthy talks to form a new coalition.
With the country divided between those who speak French - mainly in the south - and Dutch - in the Flemish north - there is no one party that bridges the linguistic and geographic gulf between the two communities. Negotiations are expected to take at least a month.
Traditionally the prime minister comes from one of the majority Flemish parties. Divisive figure
But it would be a big surprise if the present incumbent, Liberal leader Guy Verhofstadt, hangs on to the job. Leader of the Christian Democrats, Yves Leterme, immediately called for constitutional changes to devolve power to the regions - Dutch-speaking Flanders, in the north, and French-speaking Wallonia, in the south.
The chief beneficiary of his fall in popularity could be the leader of the Flemish Christian Democrats, Yves Leterme. It has been an honour to lead the country and its people. I take personal responsibility for the results Guy Verhofstadt
He wants to see more powers devolved to the regions. "It is time for change. People want a different course," Mr Leterme said.
But the scandal-hit Socialists, caught up in embezzlement charges in the French-speaking south, as well as the Greens, could also have a say in the formation of the next government. He has previously caused controversy by saying that a united Belgium was an "accident of history" and that the country has no "intrinsic value".
It is possible a new administration will not emerge until weeks after the polls close on Sunday. Ceding defeat, Mr Verhofstadt said he had done his best but he was to blame for his party's loss at the polls.
"It has been an honour to lead the country and its people. I take personal responsibility for the results," he said.
His Flemish Liberal Democrats party slumped to fourth place with 18 seats, just ahead of the far-right Vlaams Belang - Flemish Interests - party, which won 17 seats.
The French-speaking Reform Movement took second place with 22 seats, while the French-speaking Socialists won 21.
No single party bridges the linguistic and geographic gulf between Belgium's two regions.
Traditionally, the prime minister comes from one of the majority Flemish parties.