Belgium likely to face tough coalition talks with initial results showing splintered vote

BRUSSELS – Initial results of Belgian national elections show big gains for the regionalist N-VA party in northern Flanders while the PS socialists were the biggest vote getters in southern Wallonia, raising the possibility of complicated coalition talks to form a government

With nearly half the votes counted, the Dutch-speaking N-VA party of Bart De Wever surged to 34 percent of Flemish votes in parliament, a rise of 6 percentage points.

The PS of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo has 29 percent in Francophone Wallonia. That's a drop of 7 percentage points but still enough to remain biggest vote getter in Di Rupo's region.

The results will likely make for difficult negotiations to form a government. It took Belgium 541 days four years ago to form a government with N-VA in opposition.