The World - News from May 9, 1988

Belgium announced formation of a center-left government headed by Christian Democrat Wilfried Martens, ending the country’s longest-running political crisis. A statement from the palace said King Baudouin had chosen Martens, 52, as prime minister and announced a Cabinet of 19 ministers, four more than in Martens’ previous center-right government. The new five-party coalition brings French and Dutch-speaking Socialists back to power for the first time in six years in partnership with the French and Dutch wings of the Christian Democrats and the Volksunie party of Flemish regionalists. A French-Dutch language dispute in October brought down the last Martens government.