Watson: "Liberal ideas are still very powerful in Belgium as elsewhere"

6.28.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Jun 2007

Commenting on the outcome of the Belgian elections, Graham WATSON, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the group where the MR and the VLD sit in the European Parliament, said:

"Although it is natural to suffer a setback after 8 years in government, Liberals return as the biggest political group in the Chamber of Representatives showing that our ideas are still very powerful in Belgium as elsewhere. In Wallonia and in Brussels the results were particularly pleasing. Despite their hype, the elections were hardly a victory for the Christian Democrats as they have fallen short of a majority, a result all too familiar from the recent parliamentary poll in Ireland. The result of yesterday's vote also suggests that the Socialists - both in Flanders and in Wallonia - should fundamentally rethink their strategy. I congratulate Guy Verhofstadt on a remarkable eight year term in office. I have no doubt Liberals will continue to play a central role in Belgian politics".