FACTBOX: Belgian parties competing in general election

June 10 - Belgium held a general election on Sunday.

Here are some key details on the main competing parties. Belgian politics consists of Flemish and Francophone sister parties, which are grouped together below (Flemish party name first):

LIBERALS (Open VLD, MR)

Have led the Belgian government for the past eight years with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (VLD) and Finance Minister Didier Reynders (MR). Platform of pro-business stance and lower taxes with liberal attitude on social issues such as same-sex marriage, soft drugs and euthanasia.

VLD looks set for losses in Flanders and the MR for a dip in Wallonia and the parties face a future in opposition.

SOCIALISTS (Sp.A/Spirit, PS)

The socialists have been the main coalition partners of the liberals during the last two governments. Two women, Laurette Onkelinx and Freya Van den Bossche, held key positions in the government as deputy prime ministers.

The French-speaking Socialist Party's image has been severely damaged by corruption scandals in the southern region of Wallonia, and its share of the francophone vote is seen dropping to around 31 from 36 percent.

The Flemish socialists are also forecast to lose support, but they could still stay in government with the resurgent Christian Democrats.

The parties aim to protect Belgium's generous welfare state, and want to increase pensions levels and the minimum wage. Socialists currently see tax cuts as a low priority and favor spending money on education instead.

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS/HUMANISTS (CD&V/NVA, CDH)

The group went into opposition for the first time in 1999 after a dioxin food poisoning scandal and are expected to return to government, with leading candidate Yves Leterme widely tipped to be the next prime minister.

The Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) are leading in the polls in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium while the CdH is forecast to win almost 20 percent of the francophone vote, putting the party in third place there.

Conscious that Belgium faces a pensions crisis due to an ageing population, CD&V say economic reform will not be at the expense of social welfare. They favor tax cuts and a hike in child benefit.

Both CD&V and CDH have tried to distance themselves from their Christian roots, saying they are humanist in their political approach.

They also support Belgian unity, although CD&V has formed a cartel with the separatist New Flemish Alliance (NVA). Some analysts say this would make it difficult for CD&V to form a coalition in government.