BELGIUM/FILE: Elio Di Rupo will become the new Belgian Prime Minister after an 18 months of political deadlock, which left the country with the current world record for the longest time without a government

Record ID: 416291

  • Title: BELGIUM/FILE: Elio Di Rupo will become the new Belgian Prime Minister after an 18 months of political deadlock, which left the country with the current world record for the longest time without a government
  • Date: 5th December 2011
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 4, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, DAVE SINARDET, SAYING "The fact that Elio Di Rupo doesn't speak good Dutch could be a problem. Firstly, from a symbolic point of view, it would be better for the Prime Minister of a federal multilingual country like Belgium to speak the two main languages, one of them being
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4C2USRDWMWKJHP8G75SZQK4FC
  • Story Text: After almost 18 months of political deadlock, Elio Di Rupo is set to become Belgium's new Prime Minister and head a six-party coalition that concluded negotiations after more than 540 days -- a modern-day world record for government formation.
    Di Rupo is widely recognised as a bright, hard-working and astute political operator who engineered what had seemed impossible for months -- a multi-party deal to form a new government.
    In June 2010, Di Rupo and his Socialist Party won the general elections in Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia.
    Professor of political science Dave Sinardet told Reuters Di Rupo's is a bit like the American dream transposed to Belgium.
    "It is the first son of immigrants who become a Belgian Prime Minister, he is the son of very poor Italian immigrants. He is also the first Belgian Prime Minister who is openly homosexual. And he is the first French-speaking Prime Minister since 1974," Sinardet told Reuters.
    Di Rupo's father died when he was one and his family was so poor that some children were placed in an orphanage.
    He graduated as a doctor in chemistry before taking on political responsibilities. He has been the mayor of the city of Mons, in Wallonia, since 2001.
    The June 2010 elections showed a country divided in two. In the south of the country, the French-speaking Wallonia, Di Rupo's socialist party won the majority of votes.
    In the north, the Dutch-speaking Flanders, the nationalist party N-VA led by Bart de Wever won on promises of greater power devolution to the regions.
    The political stalemate brought thousands of citizens on the street in support for the country's unity.
    Di Rupo's knowledge of Belgium's complex political system, his negotiating skills and sense for compromise makes him a good candidate for the job of Prime Minister, Sinardet said.
    "Elio Di Rupo certainly has some empathy, which can be very important in politics, especially when in charge of a coalition. He will need to make sure every party feels ok, feel that their interests are being taken into account, so it is a very important quality. Sometimes, he is being criticised for being over-cautious, for progressing too slowly. In difficult times, it could indeed become a liability, especially if one needs to make swift decisions. But at the same time, with such a difficult political background, with six political parties, it can turn into something positive too, as no one would feel forced into anything," Sinardet said.
    Always wearing a red bow tie, Di Rupo is more smiling than snarling.
    But many challenges await him.
    Di Rupo's administration will have to enact one of the most far-reaching reforms of Belgium's federal system and an austerity budget to save 11.3 billion euros (15.2 billion U.S. dollars).
    He will also need to win over the Dutch-speaking majority that overwhelmingly backed centre-right parties promoting either more powers for the region of Flanders or the split-up of the country -- and that with a limited command of their language.
    "The fact that Elio Di Rupo doesn't speak good Dutch could be a problem. Firstly, from a symbolic point of view, it would be better for the Prime Minister of a federal multilingual country like Belgium to speak the two main languages, one of them being Dutch. And of course there could also be a more practical problem for the day-to-day affairs, for example if he is being asked question in Dutch in parliament," Sinardet said.
    The last six prime ministers have come from Dutch-speaking Flanders, home to some 60 percent of Belgium's population.
    The government of the last French-speaking premier, Paul Vanden Boeynants, lasted little more than four months in 1978-79.
    Some Belgians want to give Di Rupo a chance but others have given up on politics altogether.
    "I think he has been very successful in all what he has done up till now. He managed to unite the North and the South of the country and to find agreements, so as far as I am concerned he will be a good Prime Minister," one Belgian man said.
    "To be honest, I don't think much about the whole thing. Because we have been able to manage without a government for so long. So I don't really know because I find Belgium's politics rather sad," another one said.
    The first test may come when Di Rupo's government starts implementing the austerity measures needed so that Belgium can cut its deficit to below 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, in line with EU rules.
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