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Belgium Breaks Impasse, Forms New Govt.

Deal reached after 9-month crisis that almost split the nation

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 18, 2008 11:20 AM CDT
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(Newser) – It took 9 months of negotiations and threatened to break the country in two, but Belgium's fractious Dutch- and French-speaking political parties struck a deal today to form a new coalition government and work toward shared priorities. Yves Leterme, the leader of the Flemish center-right party that won the June 2007 elections, will finally become prime minister later this week, Bloomberg reports.

Leterme is scheduled to meet the king on Thursday to present his new government, composed of socialists, liberals, and Christian Democrats from both sides of the language divide. He will then take over from Guy Verhofstadt, whom he defeated in June but who has remained the country's "outgoing" prime minister for almost a year. The deadlock had stoked fears last year that the binational kingdom could split into two mini-states.

Yves Leterme, center, celebrates his election victory in Brussels, Sunday, June 10, 2007. Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.
Yves Leterme, center, celebrates his election victory in Brussels, Sunday, June 10, 2007. Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.   (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Belgium's King Albert II delivers his yearly Christmas message at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Monday Dec. 24, 2007.
Belgium's King Albert II delivers his yearly Christmas message at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Monday Dec. 24, 2007.   (AP Photo/Olivier Polet, pool)
Belgium's outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt speaks in Brussels in this Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 file photo. He will finally step down this week.
Belgium's outgoing Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt speaks in Brussels in this Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 file photo. He will finally step down this week.   (AP Photo/Yves Logghe, File)
A Belgian flag flies in Brussels. Yves Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.
A Belgian flag flies in Brussels. Yves Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.   ((c) freshwater2006)
Flemings march for independence during the Belgian political crisis. Yves Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.
Flemings march for independence during the Belgian political crisis. Yves Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.   ((c) _Skender_)
Yves Leterme talks during a media conference at his office in Brussels, Monday May 14, 2007. Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.
Yves Leterme talks during a media conference at his office in Brussels, Monday May 14, 2007. Leterme will finally become prime minister of Belgium this week.   (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
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Belgium • Yves Leterme • Flanders • King Albert • Guy Verhofstadt • coalition government

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