Changes

===Political Parties===

===Political Parties===

In Belgium, there are no major "national" parties operating on both sides of the linguistic border. Consequently, elections are a contest among Flemish parties in Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone parties in Wallonia.<ref>The small German community, primarily located in the Constituency of Liege, also has its own set of minor parties; however, for national interests Liege is considered a Francophone region, and traditionally in national elections the German parties in Liege have run on a joint list with the respective Francophone party representing its political viewpoint.</ref>  Only in officially bilingual Brussels can voters choose from either Flemish or Francophone parties.<ref>Though rare, joint lists between Flemish and Francophone parties are permitted, most recently in the 2014 election, the Flemish and Francophone Green Parties ran a joint list in Brussels.</ref>

In Belgium, there are no major "national" parties operating on both sides of the linguistic border. Only one party, the relatively small '''Workers' Party of Belgium''' (which operates in the Dutch community as '''Partij van de Arbeid van België''' ('''PVDA''') and in the French community as '''Parti du Travail de Belgique''' ('''PTB'''), and nationally under the acronym '''PTB-PVDA''') operates as a true national party.

 

Consequently, elections are a contest among Flemish parties in Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone parties in Wallonia.<ref>The small German community, primarily located in the Constituency of Liege, also has its own set of minor parties; however, for national interests Liege is considered a Francophone region, and traditionally in national elections the German parties in Liege have run on a joint list with the respective Francophone party representing its political viewpoint.</ref>  Only in officially bilingual Brussels can voters choose from either Flemish or Francophone parties.<ref>Though rare, joint lists between Flemish and Francophone parties are permitted, most recently in the 2014 election, the Flemish and Francophone Green Parties ran a joint list in Brussels.</ref>

There are three main groups of parties in Belgium: the Christian Democratic parties, the Liberal parties, and the Socialist parties, along with Green and Communist parties and other, minor ones.  The parties share generally similar political views but maintain separate organizations for each linguistic group.

There are three main groups of parties in Belgium: the Christian Democratic parties, the Liberal parties, and the Socialist parties, along with Green and Communist parties and other, minor ones.  The parties share generally similar political views but maintain separate organizations for each linguistic group.