BELGIAN COALITION FORMATION -- LETERME EXPECTS A

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 002041

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN COALITION FORMATION -- LETERME EXPECTS A
CALL FROM THE KING, WILL SOON RESIGN REGIONAL POST TO
CONCENTRATE ON FEDERAL LEVEL



1. (U) Summary: During a June 20 meeting with Ambassador
Fox, Flemish Minister President Leterme said he planned to
put together a four-party Christian Democrat/Liberal
coalition if, as expected, King Albert asked him to form the
next federal cabinet. Leterme intends to reach out to the
opposition for support of constitutional changes shifting
further powers from the federal level; the government
formation process is likely to continue into late August.
Promoting economic growth will be a major focus of Leterme's
energy, particularly in the depressed rustbelt sections of
French-speaking Wallonia -- bridging the "economic divide"
will, he argued, do more to ease relations across the
language border than anything else. End summary


2. (U) On June 20, Ambassador Fox met with Yves Leterme,
Minister-President of Belgium's Flemish region, and, thanks
to a spectacular success in the June 10 federal elections,
the man who will have first crack at becoming Belgium's next
prime minister. Leterme welcomed the Ambassador to Belgium,
asked about the company the ambassador founded, and invited
him to accompany him on a visit to Ypres, Leterme's hometown.
The Ambassador urged Leterme to visit Washington, where he
would work to arrange appropriate meetings.


3. (U) Leterme left no doubt that he expected King Albert II
to ask him to form a government. Shortly before the meeting
began, Leterme explained, he put the finishing touches on
plans to announce his resignation from the
Minister-President's post and devote himself exclusively to
federal politicking. The resignation will occur on June 26,
two days before the next parliament sits for the first time.


4. (U) Asked about the cabinet formation process, Leterme
immediately made clear that he has no plans to work with the
socialists. It will be "a four party coalition," he said,
"involving the Christian Democrats and the Liberals." Such a
grouping would provide him with a majority of 81 seats in the
150 member House of Representatives. To acquire the
additional nineteen seats required to form a two-thirds super
majority (something required for passing constitutional
reforms),Leterme outlined plans to seek votes from the
opposition parties, but not to offer them places in a
coalition. He has given thought to asking the two Green
parties to join a coalition, but has yet to reach any firm
conclusion.


5. (U) Leterme professed himself determined to proceed with
constitutional reforms, i.e., devolving further powers to the
regions, despite the strong opposition of the francophone
parties. As a result, there is every chance that the
government formation talks could take a long time to bear
fruit. He will grant a brief early August vacation to the
pols who will be fashioning a coalition, but does not expect
the process to be finished before the end of August.


6. (U) On the issue of the linguistic divide, Leterme was
determined to dispel his image as a Flemish hardliner. He
described hard economic times in the French-speaking region
as the most visible source of linguistic friction in Belgium;
he intends to devote considerable energy to helping the
francophone areas revive their economy. The long-term
benefits of such a revival would help the broader Belgian
community, he noted, and assist with the process of building
links between both language groups. Fox
.