Belgium sought a new leader on Monday to steer it out of both a political and economic crisis, although there was little sign that rival parties could agree who should take the top job. Belgium plunged into its third political crisis in a year on Friday when Prime Minister Yves Leterme's government collapsed due to a Supreme Court report on political meddling in a legal case over the rescue of stricken bank Fortis.
Leterme ruled out a return to office on Sunday, leaving the five coalition parties scrambling to find a successor. Jean-Luc Dehaene, who led Belgium from 1992-1999, emerged on Monday as the most likely candidate to head an interim government until June 2009, when parliamentary elections could be held to coincide with planned regional and EU votes.
"I think there's a high chance that it will be Dehaene," said Carl Devos, political scientist at Ghent University. "He has the experience, he's been prime minister, and would be an effective crisis manager." The new leader would have plenty on his plate.
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