Van Rompuy named as latest Belgian PM

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s King Albert named Flemish Christian Democrat Herman van Rompuy as prime minister yesterday to head a revived…

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s King Albert named Flemish Christian Democrat Herman van Rompuy as prime minister yesterday to head a revived five-party coalition.

Mr van Rompuy replaces his party colleague Yves Leterme, who resigned on December 19th over allegations of political meddling in the bailout of stricken bank Fortis.

“The king received Mr Herman van Rompuy this afternoon at the Chateau de Laeken and named him prime minister,” the palace said in a statement.

Mr van Rompuy (61) is to make a speech to parliament this morning, and a vote of confidence is to take place on Friday.

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“It’s the same coalition with the same five parties,” said Pascal Delwit, president of the Centre for Political Studies at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. “But van Rompuy is a little bit more subtle than Yves Leterme.”

Press agency Belga said the only changes van Rompuy planned to make in the government were justice minister, interior minister and minister for public service and government-owned companies.

Mr Delwit said he could be more successful in the job than Mr Leterme because he was more attuned to the linguistic and political divisions between the poorer, French-speaking south and the richer, Flemish, Dutch-speaking north.

“I think he knows better the French-speaking people, the French-speaking politicians – and in this way, he is more engaged in compromise. I think perhaps he will do better,” Mr Delwit said.

Mr van Rompuy is expected to take over his predecessor’s plan to combat a looming recession caused by the global financial crisis. “Nothing is simple in our country, but what is important is that we have a government to lead with seriousness, stability and serenity,” said Elio di Rupo, leader of the Francophone Socialist Party.

Mr van Rompuy has a reputation as an intellectual and a budgetary hardliner. He has written six books on socioeconomic and political themes, and his website includes several original haiku poems with political themes, along with his recommendations for poetry and books.

Mr van Rompuy will be the third prime minister since general elections in June 2007. – (Reuters)