(21 Dec 2007)
1. Wide shot Belgian Parliament
2. Security guard
3. Interior top shot of parliament
4. Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt sitting and applauding with Minister of Finance, Didier Reynders
5. Other members of parliament applauding
6. Verhofstadt walking to podium
7. SOUNDBITE: (Dutch) Guy Verhofstadt, Belgian Prime Minister:
"Let's be fair, we cannot solve all our problems in three months, and no one can expect that from us. What we can do, what we are going to do, is work on several very well outlined goals, limited in ambition but certainly not less necessary."
8. Cutaway other members of parliament listening
9. SOUNDBITE: (Dutch) Guy Verhofstadt, Belgian Prime Minister:
"Since the first existence of our country, we have always been able to solve every conflict, every division and every debate, without bloodshed, without lasting scars and with no hard feelings. And I think that this is an approach which the world envies us, and an approach with which our country should continue."
10. People watching in gallery
11. Sign saying in French and Dutch "government declaration"
12. Pull out to wide of parliament applauding
STORYLINE
Belgium's longest government crisis ended after just under 200 days on Friday, with the swearing in of an interim government, but disagreements between parties in the coalition continued unabated.
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt presented his third government, broadening his Liberal-Socialist coalition to include the Christian Democrats.
Verhofstadt had prepared to leave national politics after his Flemish Liberal party lost the June 10 election, but
was called on to lead the new government after the victorious Flemish Christian Democrat leader Yves Leterme
failed to broker a coalition after six months of negotiations.
The interim government will be in office for three months to tackle urgent economic issues neglected during the political crisis, which was marked by bitter disagreements between Belgium's Dutch and French speaking politicians.
The political deadlock fuelled speculation among Belgians that their country could be pulled apart, as the Flemish region in the north agitates for more autonomy.
Verhofstadt said it was a time to repair confidence in the country.
"We cannot solve all problems in three months and no one can expect that from us. What we can do, what we are going to do is work on several very well outlined goals, limited in ambition but certainly not less necessary," he said.
He unveiled a limited government program that includes spending cuts to keep the budget balanced as well as steps to shield low-income Belgians from inflation and to ensure Belgium meets its climate change targets.
Job creation and the drafting of a national security plan are also priorities.
"Since the existence of our country, we have always been able to solve every conflict, every division and every debate, without bloodshed, without lasting scars and with no hard feelings. And I think that this is the approach which the world envies us and an approach with which our country should continue," Verhofstadt said.
In recent months, Francophones had resisted Leterme's plans to take powers over taxation and social security away from the national government.
That would have allowed the richer Flemish north to keep more of its own revenue rather than financing the poorer, French-speaking south.
The groups had also squabbled over the rights of French-speakers living in Flemish suburbs around Brussels.
Leterme is likely to continue to press ahead with those plans as he starts work as Minister for Institutional Reform in the new government.
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