Final tallies showed the Flemish Interest party was the main benefactor reaping votes in the northern Dutch-speaking Flanders region away from Verhofstadt's Liberal Democrats.

His national government coalition partners, the French-speaking Socialists, suffered losses in the French-language region because of a string of corruption scandals, but did not suffer as poorly as expected.

"People made a conclusion on the things that went on," said Elio di Rupo, Socialist leader and premier of Wallonia.

Newspaper headlines reflected the bad news now facing Verhofstadt's fragile coalition, which has dropped in popularity in recent months because of party infighting and a perception it is weak on crime. The opposition Christian Democrats and Flemish Interest have successfully exploited it.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 14, 2006
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