

Belgium, which was running without a full federal government since December 2018, now has an interim prime minister, Sophie Wilmes. The announcement was made by the country’s King Philippe, making Wilmes, 44, the first woman prime minister.





She replaces caretaker Prime Minister Charles Michel, who will be assuming his position as European Council president in December.





Wilmes represents the French-speaking liberal-centrist MR party, as does Michel. She has been appointed without a parliamentary majority.





The country has not had a full federal government since the Michel-led coalition collapsed in last December. Even since elections in May, a new coalition is not formed since discussions between the French-speaking socialist PS party and the Flemish nationalist N-VA party have stalled.