Favourite for Belgian PM resigns over budget talks

Hopes of an end to Belgium’s 19-month political crisis faded on the 21 November 2011 after Elio Di Rupo, the man poised to become its next prime minister, resigned from the task of forming a government, amid rising market pressure on its sovereign debt.

The country’s cost of borrowing money soared over 5% on the 22 November 2011 after the markets digested the announcement.

Deutsche Welle, 22.11.11: Top Belgian mediator offers to quit over budget stalemate http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15547593,00.html

ESO: Background information: Belgian general election, 2010 http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgian-general-election-2010/

ESO: Background information: Flemish leader says Belgium is doomed http://www.europeansources.info/record/flemish-leader-says-belgium-is-doomed/

France24, 22.11.11: Leader of Belgian government negotiations resigns http://www.france24.com/en/20111121-leader-belgian-government-talks-resigns-di-rupo-political-crisis-budget-cuts

EUObserver, 23.11.11: Belgian bond costs soar after government talks fail http://euobserver.com/843/114366

De Morgen, 23.11.11: Belgium under the tutelage of Brussels? (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/1204921-belgium-under-tutelage-brussels

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