Van Rompuy Government Explained

The Van Rompuy Government was the federal government of Belgium from 30 December 2008 until 15 November 2009.[1] Herman Van Rompuy was nominated as the first President of the European Council and resigned shortly after as Premier. It took office when the Flemish Christian Democrat Herman Van Rompuy (Christian Democratic and Flemish, CD&V) was sworn in as Prime Minister after the Leterme I Government fell on 22 December 2008.

On 18 December 2008, Yves Leterme offered his government's resignation to King Albert after a scandal erupted surrounding the investigation of the sale of the failing Fortis bank to BNP Paribas.[2] Leterme, Jo Vandeurzen, and Didier Reynders were accused of violating the separation of powers by trying to influence the Court of Appeals and of exerting improper influence by the First Chairman of the Court of Cassation.[3] Three days later the resignation was accepted by the king.

To be official, the Van Rompuy I government needed a vote of confidence from the Chamber of Representatives. It received the vote of confidence on 2 January 2009.[4]

The government was succeeded on 24 November 2009 by the Leterme II Government.

Composition

The Van Rompuy I Government comprises 15 ministers and seven secretaries of state. Its initial composition is as follows:[5]

MinisterNameParty
Prime MinisterHerman Van RompuyCD&V
Deputy Prime Minister - Finance and Institutional ReformsDidier ReyndersMR
Deputy Prime Minister - Social Affairs and Public HealthLaurette OnkelinxPS
Deputy Prime Minister - BudgetGuy VanhengelOpen VLD
Deputy Prime Minister - Civil Service and Public EnterpriseSteven VanackereCD&V
Deputy Prime Minister - Employment and Equal OpportunitiesJoëlle MilquetCDH
JusticeStefaan De ClerckCD&V
DefencePieter De CremCD&V
Pensions and Large CitiesMichel DaerdenPS
Climate and EnergyPaul MagnettePS
Development CooperationCharles MichelMR
SMEs, the Self-employed, Agriculture and Science PolicySabine LaruelleMR
InteriorAnnemie TurtelboomOpen VLD
Enterprise and SimplificationVincent Van QuickenborneOpen VLD
Foreign AffairsYves LetermeCD&V
Secretary of StateNameParty
Mobility (Prime Minister)Etienne SchouppeCD&V
Coordination of the Fight against Fraud (Prime Minister)Carl DevliesCD&V
Finance (Finance)Bernard ClerfaytMR
Preparation of the European Presidency (Foreign Affairs)Olivier ChastelMR
Social Integration and the Fight against Poverty (Social Affairs and Public Health)Philippe CourardPS
Disabled Persons (Social Affairs and Public Health)Jean-Marc DelizéePS
Budget (Budget), Family Policy (Justice/Employment) and Asylum and Immigration (Prime Minister)Melchior Wathelet Jr.CDH

Government reshuffle

On 17 July 2009, as a consequence of the regional elections, the government was reshuffled:

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/5036/Wetstraat/article/detail/1033676/2009/11/25/Leterme-II-heeft-eed-afgelegd.dhtml Leterme II heeft eed afgelegd
  2. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/19/belgium.government.resignation/index.html Belgium Prime Minister offers resignation over banking deal
  3. News: Belgian PM's resignation accepted. BBC News. 2008-12-22. 2008-12-22.
  4. http://www.rtlinfo.be/rtl/news/article/207825/la-chambre-a-confiance/ La Chambre a confiance
  5. Web site: Herman Van Rompuy named Prime Minister. belgium.be. 2008-12-30. 2008-12-30. nl. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615115007/http://www.belgium.be/nl/nieuws/2008/news_vanrompuy_eerste_minister.jsp?referer=tcm:117-31374-64-a6. 2011-06-15. dead.