Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1582
2009-11-24 16:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: NEW LETERME GOVERNMENT EXPECTED NOVEMBER
how-toVZCZCXRO7304 OO RUEHIK DE RUEHBS #1582 3281619 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 241619Z NOV 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9735 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEFDHN/DIA DH WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001582
SIPDIS
STATE PASS EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: NEW LETERME GOVERNMENT EXPECTED NOVEMBER
25
REF: BRUSSELS 1579
Belgian media report that the current Van Rompuy government
will resign Wednesday, November 25, allowing a new Leterme
government to be sworn in the same day. The three
ministerial positions that will change between governments
are Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Public Enterprises
and Public Works, which will all be held by members of the
Flemish Christian Democratic Party (CD&V). Former PM (March
- December 2008) and current FM (since July 2009) Yves
Leterme will replace PM Herman Van Rompuy who was selected
November 19 as the first permanent President of the European
Council. Vice PM and Minister for Public Enterprises Steven
Vanackere will become Foreign Minister and retain his Vice
Premiership. Former Minister for Public Enterprises and
Public Works Inge Vervotte, who resigned in December 2008
along with Leterme, will reclaim that portfolio. Outside of
the Cabinet, former CD&V PM Jean-Luc Dehaene will come back
from retirement as a "special negotiator" to seek a way
forward on Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde and other pending
institutional reform issues. Poloff confirmed the changes
with one of FM Leterme's staff members.
GUTMAN
.
SIPDIS
STATE PASS EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: NEW LETERME GOVERNMENT EXPECTED NOVEMBER
25
REF: BRUSSELS 1579
Belgian media report that the current Van Rompuy government
will resign Wednesday, November 25, allowing a new Leterme
government to be sworn in the same day. The three
ministerial positions that will change between governments
are Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Public Enterprises
and Public Works, which will all be held by members of the
Flemish Christian Democratic Party (CD&V). Former PM (March
- December 2008) and current FM (since July 2009) Yves
Leterme will replace PM Herman Van Rompuy who was selected
November 19 as the first permanent President of the European
Council. Vice PM and Minister for Public Enterprises Steven
Vanackere will become Foreign Minister and retain his Vice
Premiership. Former Minister for Public Enterprises and
Public Works Inge Vervotte, who resigned in December 2008
along with Leterme, will reclaim that portfolio. Outside of
the Cabinet, former CD&V PM Jean-Luc Dehaene will come back
from retirement as a "special negotiator" to seek a way
forward on Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde and other pending
institutional reform issues. Poloff confirmed the changes
with one of FM Leterme's staff members.
GUTMAN
.