Will Belgium become a confederation?

The Belgian King Albert, having studied the preferences of the parliamentary forces, will apparently appoint 46-year-old ex-Prime Minister of Flanders Yves Leterme responsible for the formation of the new government and, accordingly, the new head of the country's cabinet. This experienced manager and “a Flemish workaholic completely devoid of charisma,” symbolizing the traditional Fleming, snatched the palm from the charismatic Guy Verhofstadt, who headed the Belgian cabinet for eight years. Political scientists have already included Yves Leterme in the “new generation of pro-European politicians,” which includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Belgian legislation does not allow the formation of a one-party cabinet, and the king will consider possible options for a ruling coalition. Forming a government will take about three months. Traditionally, Flemings are appointed prime ministers.

The new government's course towards Russia will not change, but Leterme's premiership is fraught with a radical constitutional reform of Belgium, which the Fleming intends to transform from a unitary state into a confederation of three regions with expanded rights - Flanders, Wallonia and the capital of Brussels.

Katerina LABETSKAYA