Second chance for new Belgian PM

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Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has been nominated to take office for a second time.

Mr Leterme's previous period as PM was marked by political instability and fears that Belgium might break apart.

He resigned last year over allegations of political interference in the sale of the stricken Fortis bank, but was later cleared of wrongdoing.

Current Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy is leaving to become the new president of the European Council.

Mr Van Rompuy wished his successor well.

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

Mr Leterme, who has been serving as foreign minister, was nominated for a second term by King Albert.

His first period in office began with the election of July 2007.

Crisis

However, Mr Leterme's attempts to form a stable government fell victim to long-running differences between the country's Flemish, or Dutch-speaking majority, and French-speakers.

His Flemish Christian Democrats, though decisive winners in the election, struggled to form a coalition for the first nine months.

The government which finally took office in March 2008 lurched from crisis to crisis. It became bogged down in arguments over how to devolve more powers to Belgium's regions.

Analysts say Mr Leterme will have to get to grips again with the question of devolution and proposals to re-draw the political boundaries round the capital, Brussels.

Former Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene was given the task by King Albert of proposing solutions to Belgium's political and linguistic divisions.

The constitutional court has called for the reforms to be in place before the next federal election due in 2011.