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6 Months After Losing, He Still Runs Belgium

After stalemate, 'outgoing' PM may head emergency government

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 4, 2007 10:50 AM CST

(Newser) – Six months after he was defeated in inconclusive elections in June, Guy Verhofstadt is still Belgium's "outgoing" prime minister—and might end up leading a new government. Verhofstadt has met with the king twice and now will try to head a provisional coalition of French and Flemish parties, the Guardian reports. It's a stunning reversal for a man written off as finished.

Parties from Belgium's two regions have been unable to compromise on a new government, and on Saturday the putative PM-elect, Yves Leterme, walked out of negotiations. Verhofstadt described his mission as "very temporary," and it's unclear what form his leadership might take: He could simply continue as provisional leader or head a full-fledged new government.

Supporters for Belgian unity parade with the Belgian tricolor in Brussels Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007.
Supporters for Belgian unity parade with the Belgian tricolor in Brussels Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007.   (Associated Press)
Belgium's outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt speaks in Brussels in this Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 file photo. Outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt could set up an emergency government to lead Belgium out of the political crisis between French- and Dutch-speakers.   Efforts to form a new government collapsed over the weekend...
Belgium's outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt speaks in Brussels in this Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 file photo. Outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt could set up an emergency government to lead Belgium...   (Associated Press)
- Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrives for an EU summit in Lisbon in this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007 file photo.  Outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt was to consult with King Albert on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 amid signs he could set up an emergency government to lead Belgium out...
- Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrives for an EU summit in Lisbon in this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007 file photo. Outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt was to consult with King Albert on Monday,...   (Associated Press)
Would-be Prime Minister in waiting Yves Leterme, of the Flemish Christian Democrat Party talks to the media after resigning as coalition negotiator at the Belgian Parliament in Brussels, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007. Talks aimed at forming a governing coalition in Belgium collapsed on Saturday, more than five months after general...
Would-be Prime Minister in waiting Yves Leterme, of the Flemish Christian Democrat Party talks to the media after resigning as coalition negotiator at the Belgian Parliament in Brussels, Saturday, Dec....   (Associated Press)
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