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(21 May 1995) Natural Sound


Early returns in Belgium's national elections appear to indicate that Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene's centre-left coalition is holding its ground.

Observers had predicted big gains for extreme right wing parties following a government corruption scandal that cost four ministers their jobs.

Voting in Belgium is mandatory and queues formed at polling stations all over the country.

The ruling four-party coalition of Prime Minister Dehaene is facing a strong challenge from the Conservatives and the extreme right parties.

After a constitutional revision two years ago, the more than seven million voters can now elect a federal parliament with 150 seats.

For the first time Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone Wallonia are directly electing regional parliaments with limited autonomy.

One effect of these changes have been the oversized ballot papers.
Some voters clearly had difficulties with opening the ballot papers in the voting booth, never mind making their mark for one of the eight parties participating in the elections.

Prime Minister Daheane has tried to stage a campaign concentrating on his government's battle against huge debts, high unemployment and costly social services.

However corruption allegations have cast a shadow over the election and his coalition government, forcing the resignation of four Socialist ministers.

There corruption scandals are set to benefit the extreme right-wing parties - with people voting for them as a protest. The Dutch-speaking Flemish Bloc and the Front National in Wallonia are running on an anti-immigrant ticket.

Counting has begun and first results are expected on Sunday night.

But it is unlikely that any of the major political parties will gain an overall majority.

The smaller parties have already indicated their readiness to negotiate and could end up holding the balance of power in Belgium.

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