Sophie Wilmes has officially taken over.....>

BELGIUM: Sophie Wilmes has officially taken over as prime minister from

caretaker Charles Michel, who is leaving to become the next President of the

European Council on December 1. Becomes Belgium's first female PM. 

- Wilmes, from Michel's centrist francophone Reformist Movement, takes over a

minority gov't that holds just 38 seats in the 150-member Chamber of

Representatives. 

- Still no gov't formed at the federal level following May election. All

governing parties lost seats. Conservative New Flemish Alliance and centre-left

Socialist Party could seek to form gov't alongside other moderates, but 5

parties likely needed as a minimum to hold majority. Very unwieldy and liable to

collapse.  

- If agreement is reached it will not include far-right Flemish Interest (VB) or

far-left Workers' Party (PVDA-PTB). Sharp swing to extreme parties in May, with

VB coming in second place in Flanders while PVDA-PTB made gains across Belgium.