BRUSSELS – Formateur Yves Leterme (CD&V) invited on Sunday the chairmen of the parties willing to take part in an ‘orange-blue’ cabinet, to present his formation paper.

Leterme had previously indicated that his formation paper would not be ready until the middle of next week. Spokesperson Miet Deckers stated that the paper was finished earlier than planned as a result of the hard work done in the preceding days.

Today,  Monday afternoon Leterme will meet the different party chairmen separately to have their initial reactions.

The formation paper comprises 80 pages and is the first step towards a coalition agreement. Leterme said that he would not release further details until the chairmen had given their initial opinions on it. The part about government reforms would be mainly included in policy chapters such as work and family. The  actual coalition negotiations will commence on Tuesday.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news