Changes

====The Christian Democratic Parties====

====The Christian Democratic Parties====

After World War II, the Catholic (subsequently Christian Democratic) Party severed its formal ties with the Church. It became a mass party of the center (more like a political party in the United States). In 1968, the Christian Democratic Party responded to linguistic tensions in the country by dividing into two independent parties: Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V, English: Christian Democratic and Flemish) and Centre démocrate humaniste (cdH, English: Humanist Democratic Centre).  The small, German-linguistic party in this grouping is Christlich-Soziale Partei (CSP, English: Christian Socialist Party), which works with cdH on the national level while in the European Parliament has successfully held the seat allocated to German-speaking Belgians since 1994.

After World War II, the Catholic (subsequently Christian Democratic) Party severed its formal ties with the Church. It became a mass party of the center (more like a political party in the United States). In 1968, the Christian Democratic Party responded to linguistic tensions in the country by dividing into two independent parties: '''Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams''' ('''CD&V''', English: '''Christian Democratic and Flemish''') and '''Centre démocrate humaniste''' ('''cdH''', English: '''Humanist Democratic Centre''').  The small, German-linguistic party in this grouping is '''Christlich-Soziale Partei''' ('''CSP''', English: '''Christian Socialist Party'''), which works with cdH on the national level while in the European Parliament has successfully held the seat allocated to German-speaking Belgians since 1994.

====The Socialist Parties====

====The Socialist Parties====

Despite the post-World War II dominance of the Christian Democrats, the Socialists headed several postwar governments. The Socialists also split along linguistic lines in 1978: Socialistische Partij Anders (SP.a, English: Socialist Party Differently) and Parti Socialiste (PS, English: Socialist Party).  PS has strong showings in the industrial towns of Wallonia, while SP.a has less regional concentration.  The small, German-linguistic party in this grouping is Sozialistische Partei (SP, English: Socialist Party).

Despite the post-World War II dominance of the Christian Democrats, the Socialists headed several postwar governments. The Socialists also split along linguistic lines in 1978: '''Socialistische Partij Anders''' ('''SP.a''', English: '''Socialist Party Differently''') and '''Parti Socialiste''' ('''PS''', English: '''Socialist Party''').  PS has strong showings in the industrial towns of Wallonia, while SP.a has less regional concentration.  The small, German-linguistic party in this grouping is '''Sozialistische Partei''' ('''SP''', English: '''Socialist Party''').

====The Liberal Parties====

====The Liberal Parties====

In modern times, the Liberal Parties in Belgium have chiefly appealed to business people, property owners, shopkeepers, and the self-employed.  The parties maintain a more conservative free market oriented economic ideology on economic issues and a non-interventionist ideology in social issues, as reflected in their strong support for gay marriage, homosexual adoption, and euthanasia, similar to the Libertarian Party of the United States.

In modern times, the Liberal Parties in Belgium have chiefly appealed to business people, property owners, shopkeepers, and the self-employed.  The parties maintain a more conservative free market oriented economic ideology on economic issues and a non-interventionist ideology in social issues, as reflected in their strong support for gay marriage, homosexual adoption, and euthanasia, similar to the Libertarian Party of the United States.

The two current Liberal parties were formed in 1971, after the original all-Belgium Liberal Party split along linguistic lines: Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD or Open VLD, English: Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats) and Mouvement Réformateur (MR, English: Reformist Movement), which is more of a federation than a party and includes the German-linguistic Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt (PFF, English: Party for Freedom and Progress).

The two current Liberal parties were formed in 1971, after the original all-Belgium Liberal Party split along linguistic lines: '''Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten''' ('''VLD''' or '''Open VLD''', English: '''Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats''') and '''Mouvement Réformateur''' ('''MR''', English: '''Reformist Movement'''), which is more of a federation than a party and includes the German-linguistic '''Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt''' ('''PFF''', English: '''Party for Freedom and Progress''').

====Greens====

====Greens====

The ecologist parties made their Parliamentary breakthrough in 1981. Following significant gains in the 1999 general elections, the two Green parties joined a federal coalition cabinet for the first time in their history in Prime Minister Verhofstadt's first six-party coalition government. The parties experienced significant losses in the May 2003 election, however; with the French party winning only four seats in the House and the Flemish one failing to win any seats. They were thus excluded from the new coalition formed by returning Liberal Prime Minister Verhofstadt in 2003.

The ecologist parties made their Parliamentary breakthrough in 1981. Following significant gains in the 1999 general elections, the two Green parties joined a federal coalition cabinet for the first time in their history in Prime Minister Verhofstadt's first six-party coalition government. The parties experienced significant losses in the May 2003 election, however; with the French party winning only four seats in the House and the Flemish one failing to win any seats. They were thus excluded from the new coalition formed by returning Liberal Prime Minister Verhofstadt in 2003.

The two parties are the Flemish Groen (English: Green, previously AGALEV and later Groen!) and Francophone (Ecolo, officially a backronym for "Écologistes Confédérés pour l'organisation de luttes originales" which translates in English as "Confederated ecologists for the organisation of original struggles", but unofficially is simply short for "ecologist", the French term for environmentalist).  There is no German-language counterpart to the Green parties.

The two parties are the Flemish '''Groen''' (English: '''Green''', previously '''AGALEV''' and later '''Groen!''') and Francophone ('''Ecolo''', officially a backronym for "Écologistes Confédérés pour l'organisation de luttes originales" which translates in English as "Confederated ecologists for the organisation of original struggles", but unofficially is simply short for "ecologist", the French term for environmentalist).  There is no German-language counterpart to the Green parties.

In Brussels the parties have adopted a joint list to maximize votes.  Elsewhere they operate independently.

In Brussels the parties have adopted a joint list to maximize votes.  Elsewhere they operate independently.