APD | Belgium set to have first female prime minister next month

By APD writer Aditya Nugraha

Belgian Liberal politician Sophie Wilmes is expected next month to replace the outgoing prime minister Charles Michel, who has been appointed president of the European Council, becoming the first female to hold Belgium top job.

Wilmes is the budget minister in the caretaker government led by Michel. She would lead a caretaker administration until the country’s political parties agree on a new government, local media reported. They have so far failed to do so following a general election in May.

After the 2010 elections, Belgium was led by a caretaker administration for more than a year-and-a-half, setting what was then a record for a country not at war.

Belgium, a member of the EU and the euro currency area, is nearly equally split into Dutch and French-speaking regions. It also has a smaller German-speaking district. There are no national parties, as voters elect representatives from their sides of the linguistic divide.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)