Brussels - Belgium's King Albert II yesterday announced a new government, led by Flemish liberal Mr Guy Verhofstadt and including liberal, socialist and green parties. The liberals won the lion's share of portfolios, taking eight ministries, followed by the socialists with six and the greens four.
Exactly a week ago Belgium's six political parties reached an agreement in principle on forming a new government following elections last month. Their agreed 11-chapter programme for government notably calls for the "gradual phasing out of nuclear" power, a cherished policy goal of many of the parties.