New-Flemish Alliance

Greater autonomy for Flanders would boost its economy, but outright independence for the northern region of Belgium would be costly for all, its leader said Monday.

Belgium's main Flemish separatist party New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) warned Saturday that it wanted complete autonomy for the Flanders region if it wins legislative elections slated for May 2014.

Firebrand nationalist leader Bart De Wever on Thursday rounded on the Belgian king, saying he had overstepped his role and should move aside after meddling in political issues.

Belgium captain Vincent Kompany has jumped into the political fray by rounding on Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever and urging that the country was "for everyone".

Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever scored a breakthrough election win Sunday and immediately urged Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo to radically re-shape the federal state.

Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever scored a breakthrough win in local elections Sunday and immediately called on Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo to radically re-shape the federal state.

Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever appeared set for a breakthrough win in Belgian local elections on Sunday, moving well ahead in the key northern city of Antwerp, the country's economic heart.

Belgian local elections Sunday have taken on unusual importance as a potential make or break vote on the country's future, with Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever seeking a big breakthrough.

Belgium's feuding Flemish and Walloon parties agreed Saturday on an institutional reform aimed at ending a crisis that has left the kingdom rudderless for 18 months and on the brink of collapse.

Belgium's feuding politicians on Thursday hailed a first breakthrough in marathon negotiations, removing a key hurdle in a crisis that has left the country without a government for a world-record 459 days.

The politician tasked with negotiating with Belgium's main political parties to resolve the country's long-running political crisis announced a breakthrough in talks late Wednesday.

Belgium headed into uncharted waters Wednesday after a shock decision by caretaker premier Yves Leterme to seek another job, amid deadlock in talks to end the country's longest political crisis.

The head of Belgium's independence-minded New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) said in an interview on Saturday that he does not support splitting the politically deadlocked country in two.

Without a government for nearly seven months, Belgium now holds a dubious record in Europe and with no end in sight to the political crisis, fears are growing of a backlash from watchful markets.

Belgium's political crisis deepened Thursday when a mediator appointed by the court to end a political crisis that has left Belgium without a government for 207 days threw in the towel.

Hopes of a quick end to Belgium's longest political crisis evaporated Wednesday when a powerful Flemish separatist party rejected a new bid to kickstart government coalition talks.

After six months of failed attempts to put together a government, Belgian political leaders are being offered a fresh chance to end the langage-divided nation's longest crisis.

Belgium plunged deeper into political crisis on Monday after a new bid to form a coalition government fell apart as the divided country's Flemish and French-speaking leaders failed to bridge a gulf.

A top Belgian politician warned the country's citizens on Sunday to "get ready for the break-up of Belgium," as King Albert II seeks to relaunch knife-edge coalition talks.

A top Belgian politician warned the country's citizens on Sunday to "get ready for the break-up of Belgium," as King Albert II seeks to relaunch knife-edge coalition talks.