In general, the smaller party/parties would be assured of gaining seats, and the larger party would be assured of obtaining a larger overall share of the vote. This was especially true for the CD&V / N-VA alliance, whereby CD&V became the largest party by votes in the Flemish regional elections, so therefore it could initiate coalition talks and the party could appoint the leader of the Flemish regional government. The VLD / Vivant / Liberaal Appel alliance did not perform well in the polls. The alliance was renamed Open VLD as of February 2007. The proposed SP.a / Spirit / Groen! alliance did not happen, instead the SP.a / Spirit alliance went alone to the polls. Vlaams Belang formed an alliance with VLOTT, a break away party from the VLD, which advocates capitalist and rightwing liberal economic policies. The VB / VLOTT alliance is negotiating with Lijst Dedecker to include them in the alliance, but the outcome is in the balance and is unlikely to happen. The parties Representative political parties Following parties have consistent presence in the Flemish parliament: Christian-Democratic and Flemish (Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams) Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang) Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten) Green (Groen) List Dedecker (Lijst Dedecker) New-Flemish Alliance (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie) Forward (Vooruit) Union of Francophones (Union des Francophones) Parties without representation in the Flemish Parliament Belgische Unie/Union Belge (Belgian Union) Committee for Another Policy (Comité voor een Andere Politiek) Left Socialist Party (Linkse Socialistische Partij) Liberaal Appèl (Liberal Appeal) Vivant—part of the alliance VLD/VIVANT VLOTT—part of the alliance VB/VLOTT Workers Party of Belgium (Partij van de Arbeid van België) See also Politics of Belgium, Politics of Brussels, Politics of Wallonia Flemish Movement Greater Netherlands Science and technology in Flanders External links Flanders