The split personality of the Belgian Prime Minister

Luc Van Der Kelen ponders the personality of the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who has just presented his book 'Quatrième Manifeste du citoyen' on the future of the Parti des Libéraux Flamands (VLD). "Guy Verhofstadt has a double identity: on the one hand there is the 'pragmatic' Prime Minister, who has been at the head of a difficult country for almost eight years and who has had to accept compromise for this. On the other hand, there is the futurologist, who makes a come back every time there are elections in sight. ... In his fourth Manifesto, Guy Verhofstadt move forth following the thread that has led the way of his career. ... His weak point is that he has not always put into practice the ideas he has announced. ... A politician who builds his entire career on big propositions of reforms should also have a plan for achieving them. Otherwise they risk being seen as nice ideas that will remain utopian."

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