Belgian King Albert II has approved the formation of a new coalition government and appointed a French-speaking socialist politician as the new prime minister, putting an end to a 540-day political vacuum.

The Belgian Palace said Monday, local time, that the king received Socialist leader Elio Di Rupo at the palace and named him prime minister.

The new prime minister and Cabinet members will take office after a swearing-in ceremony at parliament on December seventh. The new Belgian prime minister will attend this weekend’s European Union summit.

Belgium went 540 days without a government due to political wrangling over the division of constituencies between two regions --- southern French-speaking Wallonia and wealthier Dutch-speaking Flanders.