After 500 days of political deadlock, the leaders of eight political parties finally reached an agreement to implement the political reforms that will transfer more powers from the federal government in Brussels to the country’s regional authorities in Francophone Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders. The agreement paves the way for the formation of a new government, which is likely to be headed by socialist Elio di Rupo. Moreover, politicians are speeding up talks in order to draw up the 2012 budget, which aims to reduce the budget deficit to 2.8% of GDP.
