Belgium

Head of Flemish liberals appointed to lead Belgian government coalition talks

cde.news desk 18 August 2020, 21:03 · 1 min read

epa08610710 Open Vld party president Egbert Lachaer (R) after a meeting with King Philippe of Belgium (L) for the formation of a new government at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, 17 August 2020. Royal Palace announced that Egbert Lachaer is now in charge of the mission to form a government. Belgium is seeing the longest political crisis in the history of the country with 596 days without a formal Government. The last formal government led by prime minister Michel was falling on 21 December 2018. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET

Belgium’s King Philippe on Tuesday asked Egbert Lachaert, leader of the Flemish liberal party Open VLD, to try to form a coalition government.

The king had held talks with party leaders since an attempt to form a government by Bart De Wever of the Flemish nationalist N-VA and Paul Magnette of the French-speaking Socialists collapsed last week.

Lachaert will report back to the king on August 28.

Belgium has been without a fully functioning government for more than 600 days, since Charles Michel resigned as prime minister in December 2018.

On September 17, the minority government led by Sophie Wilmès will face a vote of confidence in parliament.

POLITICO

Filed under Belgium

Topics Belgium

Head of Flemish liberals appointed to lead Belgian government coalition talks

More from Belgium

Belgian PM Set to Resign After Budget Talks Collapse

Brussels mayor says violence ‘undermining society’ after officer shot dead in Jette

Belgian Strikes to Disrupt Public Transport and Brussels Airport on Friday and Monday