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Elio Di Rupo will be the first Socialist to be Belgian PM since 1974 |
Belgium's
King Albert II has appointed a new cabinet, ending a record-breaking
year-and-a-half of political deadlock.
The new
government, to be sworn in on Tuesday, will be headed by French-speaking
Socialist Elio Di Rupo.
Belgium has
been run by a caretaker administration since the last government resigned in
April 2010 after failing to resolve long-running linguistic disputes.
The
inability to reach agreement led to fears the country could split.
But last
week, six parties agreed to a new administration headed by Mr Di Rupo.
A statement
from the palace said the king had "received Elio Di Rupo at Belvedere
castle and named him prime minister".
Mr Di Rupo,
60, will be Belgium's first French-speaking prime minister in three decades and
the first Socialist to take the premiership in Belgium since 1974.
Didier
Reynders, who held the role of finance minister in the caretaker
administration, would swap portfolios with the temporary Foreign Minister
Steven Vanackere, said the statement.
Belgium
holds a modern day record for the country which has gone the longest without a
government - 540 days.
Politicians
have been under pressure from financial markets and ratings agencies to create
an effective government capable of carrying out structural reforms and reducing
debt.
Last month,
ratings agency Standard & Poor's downgraded Belgium's credit rating to AA
from AA+, which could make it more expensive for Belgium to borrow in future.
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