Brussels - Yves Leterme was expected to make a comeback as prime minister of Belgium following the appointment of incumbent Herman Van Rompuy as European Union president, Belgian media reported Tuesday. The ruling coalition parties reached a political deal overnight paving the way for Leterme to try and form a new government, it was reported.
A Flemish Christian Democrat, Leterme is Belgium's current foreign minister.
He headed the Belgian government in 2008 at a time of vicious political infighting between the country's Dutch-speaking majority and French-speaking minority after emerging as the surprise victor of national elections in 2007. Over 800,000 voters marked him as their personal preference, a Belgian record.
But his rule was marred by incessant feuding between Dutch and French speakers, and commentators have warned that his rehabilitation could spark a new round of strife.
One major bone of contention involves the electoral constituencies of Dutch-speaking communities around the Brussels area.
Van Rompuy, who was chosen by fellow EU leaders to head the bloc at an extraordinary summit last week, was hailed for restoring harmony between the two communities. He succeeded Leterme in December 2008.
