Belgium’s future unsure as prime minister resigns

BELGIUM’S future hung in the balance last night as King Albert II considered whether to let his prime minister, Yves Leterme, resign over his failure to bridge the gulf between the country’s two linguistic communities.

The king, informed by Leterme of his decision, was “weighing” the move, the palace said, and met political leaders from both sides of the political divide and parliamentary officials.

After his shock move, Leterme said: “It appears that the communities’ conflicting visions of how to give a new equilibrium to our state have become incompatible.”