Van Den Brande IV Government [nl] CVP-SP coalition Dewael Government [nl] VLD-SP-Agalev-People's Union coalition The incumbent Flemish Government consisted of the Christian People's Party (CVP) and the Socialist Party (SP), led by Minister-President Luc Van den Brande (CVP).

New Minister-President Patrick Dewael (Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD)) led a "purple-green-yellow" coalition of his own liberal VLD, the Socialist Party, Agalev and the nationalist People's Union (VU-ID).

Also notable was the continuation of the rise of Vlaams Blok, especially in the constituency of Antwerp where Filip Dewinter was candidate and where the party received 25% of the votes, or as much as 30% in the city of Antwerp itself.

These were only the second direct election for the Flemish Parliament, but the last to use arrondissement-based constituencies.

Picqué II Government [nl; fr] PRL-PS-CVP-FDF-sp.a-People's Union coalition Simonet I Government [nl; fr] PS-PRL-Ecolo coalition