Flemish nationalists of N-VA reach a record high
The poll was carried out between 22 August and 8 September and included 1,004 respondents.
If elections would be held today, the N-VA would have 36.3% of the votes, which is 8.1% more than at the federal elections two years ago. It's the highest score for the N-VA since the party is taking part in the elections in its present form.
In June 2008 the N-VA got 6.6%. Since then, things only got better for Bart De Wever and his team. The N-VA is by far the biggest political player in Flanders, twice as big as the numbers 2, the Christian democrats of CD&V. The party of Wouter Beke, which is part of the present federal coalition - while the N-VA is not - wins 1% compared to the 2010 elections. The CD&V and the N-VA used to cooperate in a so-called "kartel", going to the voter together as one. Their bond was broken in September 2008, with the N-VA going its own way.
Open VLD can't turn the tide
Where there are winners, there are also losers. The Flemish liberals of Open VLD have reached rock-bottom with 10.7% of the votes. The score is 3% down on the 2010 elections. Ten years ago, the liberals could still count on 26% of the votes.
The Flemish socialists of SP.A remain more or less status-quo with 14.5% and take 3rd place in the political landscape behind N-VA and CD&V. Far-right Vlaams Belang has 9.5% according to the poll. That's 3% under their score of 2010. The Flemish greens of Groen have to be content with 7.9%. The party of the liberal maverick Jean-Marie Dedecker, LDD, has only 1.3% and is well below the election threshold of 5%.
Elio Di Rupo is conquering Flanders
In the individual poll, the Flemish PM Kris Peeters (CD&V) is the most popular politician in Flanders, followed by Bart De Wever (N-VA). The women are doing well, with the Flemish Mobility Minister Hilde Crevits jumping from 5 to 3. Meanwhile, the federal PM Elio Di Rupo of the Francophone socialists is gaining ground in Flanders, with more Flemish voters giving them their approval.
