Yves Leterme

Yves Leterme, born on October sixth, nineteen sixty, is a prominent Belgian politician and diplomat, recognized for his leadership of the Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V). His political career is marked by two terms as the Prime Minister of Belgium, first from March to December of two thousand eight, and later from November two thousand nine to December two thousand eleven.

Throughout his career, Leterme has held various significant positions within the Belgian federal government, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Budget, Institutional Reforms, Transport, and the North Sea. He also served as the Minister-President of Flanders and held the role of Flemish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. Despite his French-sounding name, Leterme is of Flemish descent and is fluent in Dutch, French, and English.

In July two thousand eight, Leterme faced a political crisis when he tendered his resignation to King Albert II due to the failure to meet a deadline for constitutional reform aimed at devolving powers to Belgium's linguistic communities. However, the King rejected his resignation and appointed a commission to address the reform process. Later, in December of the same year, Leterme resigned again amid a crisis related to the sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas, which led to the acceptance of his resignation by the King.

After a brief hiatus, Leterme returned to the role of Prime Minister in November two thousand nine, succeeding Herman Van Rompuy, who had taken on the role of the first President of the European Council. His tenure was not without challenges, as he offered his resignation again in April two thousand ten after losing support from a key coalition partner. Following a lengthy caretaker period, he announced his departure from the Prime Minister's office in September two thousand eleven to assume the position of Deputy Secretary-General at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He was succeeded by Elio Di Rupo on December sixth, two thousand eleven, marking the end of the longest caretaker government in the developed world.