Liberal Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt on Sunday called on the country's major parties to finally agree on the key points of constitutional reform, as the parliament gave his temporary government its vote of confidence, DPA reported. Some 97 legislators gave him their vote of confidence, with 46 votes against. The government, which is only to remain in office until the spring, is intended to fill the political vacuum in Belgium as Flemish Christian Democrat, Yves Leterme, who emerged as the winner in June 10 elections, has still not managed to form a government. "We're facing a great challenge," said Verhofstadt, who - in the face of political crisis - has again become the country's most popular politician since his electoral defeat. "It will be difficult, but not insurmountably so," he said, adding he was optimistic because all major parties saw the necessity for constitutional reform, whether they would be in government or in the opposition in the future. He called on Christian Democrats and Liberals in Dutch-speaking Flanders and in French-speaking Wallonia, to come to an agreement despite their ongoing quarrels during the coalition negotiations. "Sometimes love is particularly enduring when it's a marriage of convenience," he said.
