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Old June 10th, 2007 #1
dogman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,499
Default Flanders chief set to lead next Belgian government

Flanders chief set to lead next Belgian government

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian voters punished the outgoing liberal-socialist government in an election on Sunday and cleared the way for Flemish premier Yves Leterme to become prime minister.

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's 8-year term seemed certain to end after his liberals slid from being the strongest party in Flanders to third place, according to early results and projections.

Economic and foreign policy are unlikely to change radically in a country run by endless compromise.

Leterme's Christian Democrats and their small nationalist allies N-VA saw their share of the vote surge to 31.5 percent in the northern region that is home to 60 percent of Belgians.

Belgium's likely next prime minister claimed victory before rapturous supporters waving the Flemish flag.

"This is progress and a victory for the whole team," he told the crowd of party members, vowing to work for more security and "a modern restructuring of the state."

Leterme wants the regions, already responsible for public works, transport, agriculture and the environment, to have more control over labor policy, justice and health. The francophone socialists in particular will take some convincing.

"We must give people what they want, namely change and better government. I will do that with all parties that want to work in a constructive way for a positive future for our people," the 46-year-old Leterme said.

The Socialists, junior partners in the outgoing coalition, suffered heavy losses in Flanders and slipped in French-speaking Wallonia after a series of local embezzlement scandals. It was just ahead of the centre-right Francophone Reform Movement.

Ecologist parties made strong gains, giving them a chance of entering a new coalition. The far-right Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang also gained some ground but seems certain to remain shunned by all mainstream parties.

Critics say it is racist and that it targets Muslims in its opposition to multi-culturalism.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Voters chose from separate francophone and Flemish party lists, depending on where they live. The federal government normally consists of majorities in both regions.

A Christian Democrat/Socialist government had seemed most likely, but such was the slide of the Flemish Socialists that this coalition alone no longer seemed possible.

Leterme said he would listen to all parties. He needs a two-thirds majority to push through constitutional reform.

Leterme himself will have to convince francophones he is fit to lead Belgium, having suggested last year they were not smart enough to learn Dutch. The most popular candidate in Flanders, he has scant backing in southern Belgium.

Although voting is compulsory, Belgium's voters showed limited enthusiasm, with many saying the outcome was out of their hands given the party list system and complex coalition negotiations.

Forming a government could take at least three months.

(additional reporting by Emma Davis and Julien Ponthus)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070610/...14TYUuWTZ0bBAF
 
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