BRUSSELS – Flemish liberal leader Alexander De Croo will be Belgium’s new prime minister at the head of a seven-party coalition government, it was announced today, 16 months after inconclusive elections.
De Croo’s French-speaking socialist rival Paul Magnette confirmed that the parties have chosen the 44-year-old finance minister for the top job. He is to be sworn in tomorrow by Belgium’s king.
By choosing a Flemish leader, the incoming government hopes to balance the fact that its parliamentary base will be drawn from mainly French-speaking parties, with the main Dutch-speaking groups in the opposition.
“We flipped a coin and it came down to Alexander, and it’s an excellent choice,” said Magnette jokingly at the end of the press conference to present the outcome of the negotiations.
Belgium has had no governing majority for 21 months since the collapse of former leader Charles Michel’s government, and it has been 493 days since federal elections failed to resolve the crisis.
Leaders from the seven parties met until the early hours today before coming to an agreement on a government programme and cabinet line-up to be presented to King Philippe.
De Croo will replace French-speaking liberal leader Sophie Wilmes, who has served as acting prime minister during the coronavirus pandemic, but never wielded a parliamentary majority.
The new coalition will bring together two socialist parties – one French-speaking, and the other, Flemish – two liberal parties and two sets of greens. – AFP, September 30, 2020
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