6 Months After Losing, He Still Runs Belgium

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. (More Guy Verhofstadt stories.)