Brussels  - The five political parties which made up Belgian's last two governments have agreed to renew their coalition, the man tasked with forming the next administration said Monday.

After talks with the leaders of the parties which made up the last government, Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61, told local media that the quintet had agreed in principle to continue their former coalition, though the details remained to be finalized.

The talks are set to continue on Tuesday, with French- and Dutch-language media both speculating that a new government could be sworn in as early as Tuesday evening.

If that is the case, van Rompuy will become the third prime minister to have led the coalition this year.

The previous government, headed by his party colleague, Yves Leterme, fell on December 19 after Leterme and his justice minister, Jo Vandeurzen, were accused of trying to influence judges in a case concerning the sale of collapsed banking giant Fortis. Both men denied the charges, but resigned.

The Leterme government, in turn, took over in March from a caretaker coalition of the same five parties headed by former premier Guy Verhofstadt - defeated by Leterme in June 2007 elections.

Relations between Belgium's political parties have long been embittered by a disagreement over the division of power and wealth between the richer, Dutch-speaking province of Flanders and the poorer, French-speaking region of Wallonia.

Van Rompuy's coalition, like its predecessors, is expected to consist of the French- and Dutch-speaking conservatives and liberals and the French-speaking socialists.

If confirmed, it will take power as Belgium is reeling under the impact of the current financial crisis and with the vexed question of the relationship between the two main regions as yet unsolved. (dpa)