Premier Di Rupo must win over Flemish

Elio Di Rupo was sworn in as Belgium's first French-speaking Prime Minister in 37 years on Tuesday. His biggest problem will be the opposition in Flanders, the Flemish daily De Standaard warns: "If Elio Di Rupo really wants to be accepted he must enact policies that also appeal to the Flemish. That's a tall order because experience has shown that the two halves of the country have very different concerns and expectations. The economy in the north also has different problems to that in the south. And above all: Di Rupo has virtually no opposition in Wallonia and Brussels, it's all concentrated in Flanders. The [nationalist] N-VA party will constantly point out the weaknesses and try to whip up hostility against him. ... Elio Di Rupo will have to take the Flemish situation into account, the Flemish voters and the Flemish opposition. And he must also make a choice in his policies. It's not nice, but necessary if he wants to stand his ground."

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