Leterme II Government


The Leterme II Government was the federal government of Belgium from 25 November 2009 to 26 April 2010, and the caretaker government until 6 December 2011. It took office when the Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme was sworn in as Prime Minister. It followed the Van Rompuy I Government which ended when Herman Van Rompuy became the first President of the European Council. It comprised five parties: the Dutch-speaking Christian Democratic and Flemish, the Dutch-speaking Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats, the French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement, the French-speaking Socialist Party and the French-speaking Humanist Democratic Centre.

Composition

The Leterme II Government originally comprised 15 ministers, seven secretaries of state, and a government commissary.
MinisterNameParty-
Prime MinisterYves LetermeCD&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 – Foreign Affairs and Institutional ReformsSteven VanackereCD&V
Deputy Prime Minister – Employment and Equal OpportunitiesJoëlle MilquetCDH
InteriorAnnemie TurtelboomOpen VLD
Self-employed, Agriculture and Scientific PolicySabine LaruelleMR
JusticeStefaan De ClerckCD&V
DefencePieter De CremCD&V
Pensions and Big citiesMichel DaerdenPS
Development Cooperation and European AffairsOlivier ChastelMR
Climate and EnergyPaul MagnettePS
Enterprise and SimplificationVincent Van QuickenborneOpen VLD
the Civil Service and Public CompaniesInge VervotteCD&V
Secretary of StateNameParty-
Mobility Etienne SchouppeCD&V
Coordination of the Fight against Fraud Carl DevliesCD&V
Finance Bernard ClerfaytMR
Fight against Poverty Jean-Marc DelizéePS
Disabled Persons Philippe CourardPS
Budget Melchior Wathelet Jr.CDH

Changes in composition

On 14 February 2011, Charles Michel resigned as minister of Development Cooperation to become Chairman of the MR. He was replaced as minister in the Leterme II caretaker government by secretary of state for European Affairs Olivier Chastel, who became minister of Development Cooperation and European Affairs. Chastel was not replaced as secretary of state.

Crisis

From the start of the Leterme I Government, the problem of the electoral district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde caused problems between the coalition partners. The Constitutional Court of Belgium had judged in 2003 that the rules applying to the electoral district violated the non-discrimination principle. When no solution was found, the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats quit the coalition. Leterme offered his resignation to King Albert II of Belgium on 22 April 2010. On 26 April 2010, after a final round of consultations by Didier Reynders failed, the king accepted the resignation. New elections were held on 13 June 2010. As of 26 April 2010 the Leterme II government became a caretaker government until it was succeeded by the Di Rupo I Government.