Leterme I Government


The Leterme I Government was the federal government of Belgium from 20 March 2008 to 22 December 2008. It took office when the Flemish Christian democrat Yves Leterme was sworn in as Prime Minister. It followed the Belgian general election of 2007 and 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.
The government received the confidence of the Chamber of Representatives on 22 March 2008, with 97 votes in favour, 48 against, and one abstaining.
It was succeeded by a government led by CD&V member Herman Van Rompuy on 30 December 2008.

Composition

The Leterme I Government comprised 15 ministers and seven secretaries of state. Its final composition was as follows:
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 - InteriorPatrick DewaelOpen VLD
Deputy Prime Minister - Justice and Institutional ReformsJo VandeurzenCD&V
Deputy Prime Minister - Employment and Equal OpportunitiesJoëlle MilquetCDH
Foreign AffairsKarel De GuchtOpen VLD
SMEs, the Self-employed, Agriculture and Science PolicySabine LaruelleMR
Social Integration, Pensions and Large CitiesMarie ArenaPS
DefencePieter De CremCD&V
Climate and EnergyPaul MagnettePS
Development CooperationCharles MichelMR
Civil Service and Public EnterprisesInge VervotteCD&V
Enterprise and SimplificationVincent Van QuickenborneOpen VLD
Migration and Asylum PolicyAnnemie TurtelboomOpen VLD
Secretary of StateNameParty-
Mobility Etienne SchouppeCD&V
Coordination of the Fight against Fraud Carl DevliesCD&V
Finance Bernard ClerfaytFDF
Preparation of the European Presidency Olivier ChastelMR
Fight against Poverty PS
Disabled Persons PS
Budget and Family Policy Melchior Wathelet Jr.CDH

Changes

In the late hours of 14 July 2008, after months of negotiations regarding constitutional reform and the status of the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde electoral district failed, and the deadline of 15 July 2008 neared without the hope of a result, Leterme offered the resignation of his cabinet to the king. After a series of consultations, King Albert II decided to reject Prime Minister Leterme's resignation on 17 July. The royal palace said that the King had asked two senior French-speaking politicians, François-Xavier de Donnéa and Raymond Langendries, and the Minister-President of the German-speaking Community, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, to establish how to start talks about institutional reform. They were expected to report back to the king by the end of the month. However, on 31 July 2008, they reported that they needed more time for the negotiations.
On 19 December 2008, Yves Leterme offered the resignation of his government to King Albert after a crisis surrounding the sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas erupted. Leterme, Jo Vandeurzen, and Didier Reynders were accused of violating the separation of powers by trying to influence the court of appeal and of exerting improper influence by the First Chairman of the Court of Cassation. Three days later the resignation was accepted by the king.