Belgium

...resounding success. Now he is back for another go. Despite presiding over a crisis that nearly broke up the country, Mr Leterme, 49, has been recalled by Albert II, King of the Belgians. Herman Van Rompuy, Mr Leterme's replacement, has...

In this article: Yves Leterme, Herman Van Rompuy, Fortis, Intrinsic value, US Secret Service, Albert II, France, White House, and Europe

...calling. Herman studied economics at the Catholic University of Leuven, found a job at Belgium's central bank, and later joined the centre-Right Christian Democrat party, progressing through the next two decades with near-invisibility.

In this article: European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, Baroness Ashton, Tony Blair, Albert II, Brussels, Economics, and Banana

...retirement when he was plucked from his MP's office at the end of 2008, amid a spiralling crisis that threatened to split the country's Flemish and French-speaking communities and made Prime Minister at the behest of King Albert II. He...

In this article: Herman Van Rompuy, European Union, Europe, Het Nieuwsblad, and Alfred Brendel

...and French-speaking communities apart. Even then, as opportunity knocked, he was reluctant to step into the limelight as national premier and it took Belgium's monarch 90 minutes to persuade him. Mr Van Rompuy remained almost completely...

In this article: Herman Van Rompuy, European Union, Europe, Tax, Reuters, Eric Van Rompuy, and Steven Spielberg

...but raises many eyebrows among eastern Europeans, Scandinavians and, of course, the British. He has led Belgium for less than a year. He was summoned last December by King Albert II to try to salvage the country amid speculation it...

In this article: Herman Van Rompuy, EU, Christian Democratic, Tax, Catholic University of Leuven, and Albert II

Appointed Prime Minister in December 2008 the country's third in less than a year (his predecessor, Yves Leterme, stepped down after nine months amid allegations that his aides exerted improper influence over the dismantling of a major bank). A...

In this article: Herman Van Rompuy, Europe, Turkey, Allegation, Christianity, Islamic, Belgium's Parliament, and Catholic University of Leuven

...wildest dreams could the Christian Democrat have thought the best was yet to come." Van Rompuy has been prime minister of Belgium for less than a year, summoned last December by King Albert II, to try to salvage a country plagued by...

In this article: Herman Van Rompuy, EU, Christian Democrat, Europe, De Standaard, Catholic University of Leuven, and Tony Blair