By Lisa Bryant
Voice of America
Belgium's coalition government collapsed for the second time in a little more than a year when a key party withdrew its support and Prime Minister Yves Leterme tendered his resignation.
It was not immediately clear whether Belgium's King Albert will accept Prime Minister Yves Leterme's resignation, following the collapse of his five-month-old coalition government. But it seems like an old story.
Mr. Leterme also resigned as prime minister in late 2008 over a banking scandal. He returned to power last November when former Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy was tapped to become the first, full-time head of the European Union.
This latest resignation is a fallout of Belgium's long-term power struggle between the country's French-speaking Walloons and Flemish-speaking majority.
The latest disagreement centers on special rights for Walloons living near Brussels. A key coalition member, the Flemish liberal Open VLD Party, pulled out of the government, frustrated over the failure to resolve the dispute....(Remainder.)
Voice of America
Belgium's coalition government collapsed for the second time in a little more than a year when a key party withdrew its support and Prime Minister Yves Leterme tendered his resignation.
It was not immediately clear whether Belgium's King Albert will accept Prime Minister Yves Leterme's resignation, following the collapse of his five-month-old coalition government. But it seems like an old story.
Mr. Leterme also resigned as prime minister in late 2008 over a banking scandal. He returned to power last November when former Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy was tapped to become the first, full-time head of the European Union.
This latest resignation is a fallout of Belgium's long-term power struggle between the country's French-speaking Walloons and Flemish-speaking majority.
The latest disagreement centers on special rights for Walloons living near Brussels. A key coalition member, the Flemish liberal Open VLD Party, pulled out of the government, frustrated over the failure to resolve the dispute....(Remainder.)
