Guy Verhofstadt

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Belgium Breaks Impasse, Forms New Govt.

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

(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...

A Belgian Government, at Last
A Belgian Government, at Last

A Belgian Government, at Last

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

(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...

It's All Greek to Miss Belgium
It's All Greek to Miss Belgium

It's All Greek to Miss Belgium

Beauty queen is no Dutch treat; caretaker PM tries to mend government

(Newser) - The new Miss Belgium sparked fury in Flanders this weekend with her admission that she doesn't speak Dutch, AFP reports. In a country already torn over the Flemish-French conflict that's derailed the government for months, 20-year-old Alizee Poulicek's attempt to speak the language of the country's majority was met with...

6 Months After Losing, He Still Runs Belgium

After stalemate, 'outgoing' PM may head emergency government

(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...

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