BRUSSELS, April 22 (UPI) -- Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterne delivered a letter of resignation Thursday to King Albert II after a Flemish party pulled out of his coalition.
The king was still considering whether to accept the resignation, The Times of London reported. The palace issued a statement saying the crisis is "inopportune" given that Belgium is to become president of the European Union July 1.
The Flemish Liberal Party or VLD split with Leterne in a dispute over redrawing political boundaries between French- and Flemish-speaking districts. Without the VLD, Leterne's coalition has a bare majority in the lower house of Parliament -- 76 out of 150 seats -- and no Flemish-speaking support.
Belgium's split between Flemish-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia has made for a history of unstable government. Leterne's coalition lasted only five months, although elections have not been held for three years.
If King Albert accepts Leterne's resignation, he must call an election.
