Flemish politics has suffered two blows in the space of two days. Firstly, relations between two of the parties which make up the governing coalition in Flanders, the nationalist Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) party and the pro-independence New-Flemish Alliance (N-VA), have hit rock bottom, although the coalition has not yet broken up. On Sunday N-VA announced that it was withdrawing its support for the current federal government of Belgium, headed by Yves Leterme. And on Monday, N-VA demonstrated its lack of faith in the regional government, with the resignation of the nationalist party's only minister, Geert Bourgeois.

The motive for Sunday's announcement and Monday's resignation was the same: N-VA no longer trusts Flemish leaders, in the regional or federal government, to resolve the political crisis surrounding devolution and feels that the French-speaking parties are not sufficiently committed to the debate on constitutional reform. But the other parties that make up the governing coalition in Flanders, socialists and liberals, have already called for Bourgeois to resign on a number of occasions.

Unlike N-VA, CD&V does believe that the concessions made by French-speaking parties are sufficient to start talks between Flanders and Wallonia: Francophone party leaders have said that the federal government will not decide the future of the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde district, that they are committed to "serious" dialogue, and that partial agreements will be in place before regional elections are held in June 2009.

No-one is expected to take up the ministerial position Geert Bourgeois has left vacant: the current Minister-President, Kris Peeters, will instead take over his responsibilities. N-VA and CD&V are highly unlikely to form a coalition after the next elections. Although CD&V members have said they would be willing to renew the "cartel", the leader of N-VA, Bart De Wever, is reported by lesoir.be to have said that it would be "almost impossible" for the parties to enter an election cartel for the regional elections next June.

Belgium has been on the verge of political paralysis since parliamentary elections back in June 2007, when parties began long and difficult talks to form a government. On March 20, the Fleming Yves Leterme was sworn in as Prime Minister, opening a new phase in negotiations on constitutional reform. Discussions have so far failed to yield any results.

Further information:

• lesoir.be: Le jour où le CD&V a laissé partir la N-VA
• deredactie.be: Flemish Minister Geert Bourgeois resigns
• Rtbf: Les francophones sont prêts pour le dialogue institutionnel
• MónDivers: Els sobiranistes flamencs retiren el suport al govern de coalició belga