Belgium - Leterme returns as PM

Leterme returns as Belgian prime minister

Article published on the 2009-11-25 Latest update 2009-11-25 14:19 TU

Yves Leterme (L) is sworn in as Belgium's Prime Minister in the presence of Belgian King Albert II (R)
(Photo: Reuters)

Yves Leterme has made a rapid return to power having been named on Wednesday as the new prime minister of Belgium. He takes over from Herman Van Rompuy who last week was appointed as the first president of the European Council.

Leterme, a Flemish Christian Democrat, has already had one short spell in power in 2008.

His party won the last general election in June 2007 but he failed to form a coalition government until the following year.

He was forced out last December after it was alleged his aides had sought to influence a court ruling over the sale of Fortis bank after the financial crisis last year.

He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing however and was politically rehabilitated in July when Van Rompuy made him foreign minister.

"It's now his second chance. He has all the elements to prove he will be a good prime minister. I hope so for him and for Belgium," Van Rompuy said on Tuesday.

Public affair minister Steven Vanackere will step up to take the foreign affairs portfolio.

Supporters of the 49-year-old Leterme will be hoping that he can smooth the nation's power-sharing rivalry between the rival French and Flemish communities although some of his comments in the past may come back to haunt him.

He once described Belgium as "an accident of history", disparaged French speakers by suggesting they lack the "intellectual capacity" to learn Flemish and said that all that Belgian people share is their "king, national football team and certain beers".