BRUSSELS – Not only Yves Leterme’s party managed a sweeping electoral victory on Sunday, the leader himself received a phenomenal number of preferential votes. He secured 796,521 votes, well above his goal of a half million. With that he has a clear mandate from the voter to take up the position of prime minister.

Among francophone voters Louis Michel, of the francophone Liberals MR, received 232,000 preferential votes.

Guy Verhofstadt and Johan Vande Lanotte came in second and third in terms of preferential votes. Verhofstadt received 493,355, while Socialist SP.A leader Vande Lanotte received 306.949.

Louis Michel (232,328 votes) and Vlaams Belang leader Frank Vanhecke (219,218) complete the top five.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news