Election Poll Belgium: Results from Ipsos on March 22, 2022

According to Ipsos, 5 parties are projected to surpass the electoral threshold and enter the Belgian parliament: PS with 39 representatives, MR with 35 representatives, PVDA/PTB with 34 representatives, Ecolo with 26 representatives and LE with 16 representatives.

The Belgian Parliament, known as the Chamber of Representatives, comprises 150 members elected by proportional representation across eleven constituencies. A unique feature in Belgium is compulsory voting: all eligible citizens are legally required to participate, traditionally leading to very high voter turnout. The electoral system is further shaped by its division into linguistic groups, with parties typically competing only within their respective linguistic regions (Flanders or Wallonia) and in bilingual Brussels.

For parliamentary elections in Belgium, a 5% electoral threshold applies. This threshold is applied at the constituency level. As seats are distributed proportionally, parties must secure at least 5% of the votes in a constituency to be considered for mandate allocation. This regulation aims to prevent excessive fragmentation of the party landscape in the Chamber of Representatives, while simultaneously respecting the regional character of the Belgian party system.

Due to the country's deep political and linguistic divisions, government formation in Belgium is often a protracted and complex process. As no single party competes nationwide, coalitions invariably comprise multiple parties from both major linguistic groups (Flemings and Walloons). These multi-party coalitions must maintain a delicate balance between regions and political ideologies. Negotiations over a government program can span months, or in exceptional cases even years, until a viable majority is forged.