Last night Belgium's new Prime Minister designate went to Laken Castle to see King Albert. In his pocket he had a list of the thirteen ministers and six secretaries of state who make up Belgium's new federal Government.
Francophone socialist Elio Di Rupo will head the government. Veteran cabinet minister Laurette Onkelinx becomes the PS's Deputy Premier and stays at Social Affairs and Public Health. Paul Magnette, another Francophone socialist, lands Publicly-owned Businesses, Science Policy and International Development. Philippe Courard is the PS's secretary of state for Social Affairs, the Family and People with a Handicap.
VRT The Flemish socialist party has designated three politicians with roots in the seaside resort of Ostend. Veteran cabinet minister Johan Vande Lanotte returns to government as SP.A Deputy Premier and Economy Minister. He also holds the brief for Consumer Affairs and the North Sea.
He is joined by the Antwerp politician and newcomer Monica De Coninck, who becomes the Employment Minister. John Crombez (pictured), also from Ostend, enters government for the first time as secretary of state responsible for combating fraud. Until now he served as SP.A floor leader in the Flemish Parliament.
Belga The Flemish liberals have opted for two experienced figures. Vincent Van Quickenborne stays in the cabinet and becomes Pensions Minister.
Annemie Turtelboom moves from the Interior to Justice. Maggie De Block is the Open VLD's newcomer. As secretary of state the politician from Flemish Brabant takes charge of Maggie De Block (photo).
VRT Steven Vanackere stays on as the Flemish Christian democrats' Deputy Premier. The outgoing Foreign Minister becomes the new Finance Minister and will also be in charge of Sustainable Development. Fellow Christian democrat Pieter De Crem stays on at Defence.
Servais Verherstraeten joins the government as secretary of state for state reforms as does Hendrik Bogaert (photo), who becomes secretary of state for the Civil Service.
Belga Francophone liberal Didier Reynders (photo) stays on as Deputy Premier for the MR and switches from Finances to the Foreign Ministry. Sabine Laruelle stays on as the Minister for the Middle Classes and SMEs. The third Francophone liberal minister is Olivier Chastel, who gets Budget.
Veteran Francophone Christian democrat Joëlle Milquet, often ungenerously dubbed "Madame Non" in Flanders, soldiers on as CDH Deputy Premier and moves from Employment to the Interior. Melchior Wathelet becomes the new secretary of state for Environment, Energy and Mobility.
