Rightist parties make big gains in Belgian poll

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 8

Rightist parties make big gains in Belgian poll

NZPA-Reuter Brussels The long dominant Social Christian parties, were the big losers in yesterday’s inconclusive Belgian elections, and forming a new coalition Government could be a long and difficult job, political sources said. “It is a clear and serious defeat, but it is not quite a rout,” said the outgoing Prime Minister (Mr Marc Eyskens). The Interior Minister (Mr Philippe Busquin) said the Flemish Social Christians, who have provided the last five Belgian Prime Ministers, appeared to have lost a quarter of their seats. Ministry predictions, based on final results in most parts of the country except Brussels, showed that the Rightwing liberal parties and the Flemish nationalist Volksunie Party made the biggest gains while the socialists maintained their position. Political sources said that a Centre-Right government of Social Christians and the resurgent Liberals was a possibility although forming

a Government would probably be long and difficult. The main obstacle to a Centre-Right coalition, which the Social Christians have indicated they might favour, is the consistently strong performance of the socialists. Predictions put their tally at 62, four up on the last poll, which would leave them narrowly ahead of the Social Christians as Belgium’s leading political party. Predictions showed the Social Christian parties winning 60 seats compared with 82 at the last poll while the forecast for the Liberals was 51, 14 more than in 1978. Jean Gol, jubilant leader of the French-speaking Liberals, told reporters: “It is a clear victory and we are candidates for Government.” All main Belgian parties are split into Dutch and French language sections, reflecting the sharp divide between French-speaking Wallonia in the south and Flanders in the north. Since the last General Election Belgium has drifted into a severe economic crisis

with unemployment close to 10 per cent and a budget deficit of $5 billion. The insistence ,of the French-speaking socialists that funds be found immediately for Wallonia’s lossmaking steel industry led to the Cabinet rift that brought down the Centre-Left coalition of Mr Eyskens in September. Political sources said this stand on behalf of depressed Wallonian industry appeared to have been vindicated by voters, and severe industrial unrest could follow in Wallonia if the socialists are excluded from government. Walloon resentment at the decline of its economy and at what is regarded as Flemish domination of national politics has led recently to increased tension between Flanders and Wallonia. The Flemish in turn have been angered at what they see as the cost to their region’s economy of supporting Wallonia’s steel and the predicted strong gains of the Flemish nationalist Volksunie clearly reflected this.