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A Belgian Government, at Last

Late-night deal puts defeated PM in charge of interim coalition

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 19, 2007 10:44 AM CST

(Newser) – Six months after inconclusive elections, Belgium will finally get a new government, thanks to a deal struck overnight. The emergency administration, to be led by "outgoing" prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, will include five parties from both French- and Dutch-speaking Belgium and will only govern until March 23, when the binational kingdom will once again go to the polls, reports Deutsche Welle. "The crisis is over for Belgium," said one minister.

Verhofstadt was defeated in the June 10 elections, but squabbling among parties prevented the seeming PM-elect, Yves Leterme, from forming a government. This new interim administration will be able to pass a budget and continue state reforms that have been stalled for months. The five-party coalition includes liberals and Christian democratic parties from both Flanders and Wallonia plus a French socialist party.

Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, shares a laugh as he casts his vote at a polling station in Ghent, Belgium, Sunday, June 10, 2007.
Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, shares a laugh as he casts his vote at a polling station in Ghent, Belgium, Sunday, June 10, 2007.   (Associated Press)
Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, casts his vote at a polling station in Ghent, Belgium, Sunday, June 10, 2007.
Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, casts his vote at a polling station in Ghent, Belgium, Sunday, June 10, 2007.   (Associated Press)
Supporters for unity in Belgium demonstrate in Brussels Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. Thousands march through Brussels  in support of Belgium's survival demanding an end to a deadlock that keeps a government from taking office stoking fears this nation of 10.5 million Dutch and French-speakers may break up after 177...
Supporters for unity in Belgium demonstrate in Brussels Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. Thousands march through Brussels in support of Belgium's survival demanding an end to a deadlock that keeps a government...   (Associated Press)
Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrives for an EU summit in Lisbon in this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007 file photo.
Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrives for an EU summit in Lisbon in this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007 file photo.   (Associated Press)
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