­With almost all the votes counted, Flemish Nationalist Party leader Bart De Wever is way ahead of his rival, Socialist Mayor Patrick Janssens.

“We want to give Flemings the government they want at all levels,” De Wever said as his advantage became evident.

De Wever called on Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and the country's francophone politicians to “take up their responsibility” and give more rights of self-rule to Flanders.

The separatist party maintains that Belgium's prosperous Flemish-speaking region should not be subsidizing the French-speaking part of the country.