Belgian Political Landscape: N-VA and Vlaams Belang Vie for Dominance
The political landscape in Flanders is undergoing a period of significant shifts, with the N-VA and Vlaams Belang parties locked in a tight race for voter support. Recent polling data indicates a narrowing gap between the two, while traditional liberal parties face increasing pressure. This article examines the current state of play, analyzing the key trends and potential implications for Belgian politics.
N-VA and Vlaams Belang in a Tight Race
As of March 14, 2026, the N-VA and Vlaams Belang are the two leading political forces in Flanders. The Grote Peiling, a comprehensive survey conducted by HLN, VTM NIEUWS, RTL and Le Soir, reveals a near-tie in voter preference. N-VA currently holds a slight lead with 25.5% of the vote, closely followed by Vlaams Belang at 25.4%. Source: TVL
Notably, Vlaams Belang has experienced a surge in popularity compared to previous elections, indicating a growing appeal among Flemish voters. Source: TVL
Socialist and Christian Democrat Positions
The socialist party, Vooruit, is slightly ahead of the Christian Democrats (cd&v), securing 12.8% of the vote compared to cd&v’s 12.6%. Source: TVL Smaller left-wing parties, PVDA and Groen, garner 9.8% and 7.7% respectively. Source: TVL
Liberal Decline
The liberal parties are currently facing significant challenges, with a combined score of 5.6%, positioning them as the smallest political force in Flanders. Source: TVL
Political Advertising Spending
In 2023, Vlaams Belang and N-VA demonstrated a significant investment in social media advertising. Vlaams Belang led in spending on Facebook and Instagram, allocating just under 1.7 million euros, approximately 8,000 euros more than N-VA. Source: VRT PVDA-PTB followed with 637,000 euros in social media ad spending. Source: VRT
Shifting Political Dynamics
Recent polling data from March 17, 2025, indicates that Vlaams Belang has surpassed N-VA as the largest party in Flanders, securing 25.7% of the vote compared to N-VA’s 25.5%. Source: BusinessAM This represents an increase of nearly four percentage points for Vlaams Belang since the June elections and a two-percentage-point rise since the November polling. Source: BusinessAM
Conversely, Open Vld is experiencing a decline in support, falling to just 6% and nearing the electoral threshold. Source: BusinessAM
Campaign Criticism
N-VA chairwoman Valerie Van Peel has criticized the campaign tactics employed by Vlaams Belang, specifically those targeting Premier De Wever. Source: De Standaard She has also voiced concerns about the increasing polarization within the political spectrum, both on the right and the left. Source: De Standaard