A Belgian far-right party that wants its Dutch-speaking region to secede from the rest of the country made strong gains in national and European elections on Sunday.
The Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) party is on course to be the second largest party in both Flanders and in the national parliament, behind the nationalist N-VA party, according to partial results and projections.
With socialists and greens on top in the French-speaking Wallonia region, Belgium faces difficult negotiations to form a government, five months after the ruling coalition collapsed and left Prime Minister Charles Michel in charge of a caretaker administration.
Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken delivers a speech at the post-election meeting, as Belgium held regional, federal and European elections. Source: Getty Images
French-speaking liberal Mr Michel, who kept Vlaams Belang out of his own coalition, said the result "shows that Belgium is not spared the results of extremist populism".
"Non-democratic parties do not have the right to be present in government majorities," he added.
With most votes counted, Vlaams Belang was on course for 18 to 20 per cent of the vote, around three times their score in the last elections in 2014.
It is set to win 18 of the 150 seats in the national parliament, up from just three now, according to a projection by the interior ministry.
In the European elections, Vlaams Belang, which is an ally of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally, could end up with two of Belgium's 21 MEPs.
'Black day for Flanders'
"This is obviously a black day for Flanders," finance minister Alexander De Croo, a Flemish Liberal, said.
Vlaams Belang's advance came partly at the expense of the conservative nationalist N-VA, which looks set to drop five points to 27 per cent.
The N-VA suffered after being in an uneasy coalition with Michel for four years but is set to remain the largest party in both the regional and federal parliaments.
A yellow vest couple are passing by the riot police during the yellow vest demonstration that took place in Brussels during the European election. Source: AAP
"We have lost these elections, it's clear, but we remain the biggest party in Flanders. There are many losers but one big winner - the VB. I congratulate them," N-VA chief and powerful Antwerp mayor Bart de Wever said.
The coalition collapsed in late 2018 when the N-VA jumped ship in opposition to Belgium's ratification of a United Nations migration pact.
Filip Dewinter, a leading figure in Vlaams Belang, signalled the party's desire to play a leading role in Flanders, saying the so-called "cordon sanitaire" erected by parties that refuse to deal with it because of its hardline politics "must be broken."
Socialist politician Ahmed Laaouej said Vlaams Belang had profited from the "anti-migrant rhetoric of the N-VA" during the 2015 migrant crisis, adding: "The N-VA has not stopped spreading the virus of hate."
King to mediate
French-speaking socialists meanwhile have the lead in Brussels, with 19 per cent, and the francophone region of Wallonia with 27 per cent, according to an exit poll by the Free University of Brussels.
In Brussels, the socialists may have to share power with the Greens - reflecting broader gains for environmental politicians around Europe - who doubled their score to 20 per cent of the vote.
A sign erected by climate activists outside the European Parliament in Brussels. Source: AAP
"Tonight the green wave is growing," said the Greens' Zakia Khattabi.
Voting in the triple election was also marked by a protest outside Brussels Gare du Nord station at which police said 200 "yellow vest" anti-establishment protesters were arrested.
The deepening Flanders-Wallonia rift will complicate any effort to agree to a coalition in the 150-member federal all Belgium parliament that represents parties from both communities, underlining the rift in Belgian politics.
With 11 million people, Belgium is one of the EU's most divided member states. Dutch and French speakers choose separate candidates and parties. There is also a small German-speaking constituency.
This makes coalition building extremely complicated. Belgium took a record 541 days to form a government in 2010 and 2011 amid deep divisions between the Dutch speakers in Flanders and francophones in Wallonia and Brussels.
Economically booming Flanders votes traditionally to the right, while the socialists are the major political force in Brussels and post-industrial Wallonia, where unemployment is high.
Belgium's King Philippe will start exploratory talks with party leaders on Monday, acting as a mediator.
