Belgium Moves Close to Coalition Government after 535-Day Crisis

Elio di Rupo is set to head Belgium's new coalition government. Photo by euronews.net

Belgium is finally moving closer to having a new coalition government a  year-and-a-half after the parliamentary elections in the country.

Six parties from the country's Dutch-speaking and Francophone communities have agreed on a new administration headed by a French-speaking socialist, Elio Di Rupo, BBC informs.

On Thursday, the parties are expected to a 180-page agreement which will clear the way for a new government that could be in place early next week.

Di Rupo, 60, is set to become Belgium's first French-speaking prime minister in three decades and will be one of the very few centre-left voices in a European Union dominated by conservative leaders.

Belgium has already set a modern-day world record for being without a formal government. In April 2010, former Prime Minister Yves Leterme, leader of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party, resigned after the loss of support of his coalition partners, the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats.

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