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Belgian PM offers to stand down | Belgian PM offers to stand down |
(5 days later) | |
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has decided to resign after a key partner withdrew from his governing coalition. | Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has decided to resign after a key partner withdrew from his governing coalition. |
Mr Leterme visited King Albert to tender his government's resignation following an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday. | Mr Leterme visited King Albert to tender his government's resignation following an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday. |
The king did not immediately accept Mr Leterme's resignation. | The king did not immediately accept Mr Leterme's resignation. |
The collapse of the government threw into doubt the scheduled parliamentary debate on a law that would ban full-face Muslim veils being worn in public. | The collapse of the government threw into doubt the scheduled parliamentary debate on a law that would ban full-face Muslim veils being worn in public. |
It would have been the first such law introduced by a European country. | It would have been the first such law introduced by a European country. |
Third resignation | Third resignation |
The coalition fell apart after the Flemish liberal party, Open VLD, withdrew over a long-running dispute on the special voting rights of French speakers living in Dutch-speaking areas near the capital Brussels. | |
"There was no other choice but for the government to resign," Finance Minister Didier Reynders told reporters. | "There was no other choice but for the government to resign," Finance Minister Didier Reynders told reporters. |
It is the third time Mr Leterme, 49, has offered his resignation to the king. | It is the third time Mr Leterme, 49, has offered his resignation to the king. |
The first time, in July 2008, he offered to quit because of failures to patch up the rift between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and French-speaking Walloons. | The first time, in July 2008, he offered to quit because of failures to patch up the rift between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and French-speaking Walloons. |
The king refused to accept his resignation - but accepted it in December the same year, amid allegations that the government had interfered with the courts. | The king refused to accept his resignation - but accepted it in December the same year, amid allegations that the government had interfered with the courts. |
Mr Leterme, however, returned as prime minister after his replacement, Herman von Rompuy, was elected president of the European Council. | Mr Leterme, however, returned as prime minister after his replacement, Herman von Rompuy, was elected president of the European Council. |
The king was considering his response to the latest move on Thursday. He could ask the prime minister to try to form another administration. If that fails, elections could follow. | The king was considering his response to the latest move on Thursday. He could ask the prime minister to try to form another administration. If that fails, elections could follow. |
Divided community | Divided community |
"The king and the prime minister jointly underlined that, in the current circumstances, a political crisis would be inopportune and would seriously damage both the economic and social well-being of the citizens and the role of Belgium in Europe," the palace said in a written statement. | "The king and the prime minister jointly underlined that, in the current circumstances, a political crisis would be inopportune and would seriously damage both the economic and social well-being of the citizens and the role of Belgium in Europe," the palace said in a written statement. |
Belgium is due to take over the six-month presidency of the European Union in the next few months. | Belgium is due to take over the six-month presidency of the European Union in the next few months. |
The latest row between the Dutch and French speaking communities centres on a long-running dispute on the special voting rights of French speakers living in Dutch-speaking areas near the capital Brussels. | |
Talks on the issue have failed to reach agreement. | Talks on the issue have failed to reach agreement. |
"A negotiated solution has not been found and that's why the Open VLD is withdrawing its confidence in the government," said party president Alexander De Croo. | "A negotiated solution has not been found and that's why the Open VLD is withdrawing its confidence in the government," said party president Alexander De Croo. |