Poll ranks MR ahead of Socialist Party in Brussels

If elections were held today, the French-speaking MR (Reformist Movement) would be the largest party in Brussels, surpassing the PS (Socialist Party). The N-VA would be the largest party in the Flemish part of Brussels, including the periphery. The country’s most popular politician is Maggie De Block of Open VLD, reports FM Brussel.

According to the poll, which was conducted by VTM News and Le Soir, the MR currently outshines the PS, which would lose 5.5% of its votes compared to the elections last May.  

The Flemish nationalist party N-VA, meanwhile, is currently the largest party in Dutch-speaking Brussels, ahead of Groen and Open VLD. In Flanders, the N-VA recovered many voters following the anti-terrorist actions in Verviers. "Security is a very important issue for people and the N-VA has appropriated that theme in recent weeks," explains political scientist Nicolas Bouteca on brusselnieuws.be. "After the incidents in Verviers and Paris, Bart De Wever appeared daily on television. If you ask people in that context which party they would choose, most of them will quickly look to the N-VA for the best solution to the security problem."

The poll also shows that Maggie De Block of Open VLD remains the most popular politician, in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia. Prime Minister Charles Michel (pictured) is the third most popular politician in Flanders, while he does not even make the top five in Wallonia.