Brussels  - The Belgian parliament on Friday approved a new government made up of the same five political parties that formed the last ruling coalition, bringing at least a temporary end to the country's long-running political instability.

Lawmakers approved the formation of the government by a majority of 88 votes to 45, with no abstentions, parliamentary officials confirmed.

The vote brings an end to the current round of Belgium's political crisis, which began on December 19 with allegations that then-prime minister Yves Leterme had attempted to pressure judges in a case involving the sale of stricken banking giant Fortis.

Leterme and his justice minister Jo Vandeurzen denied all charges, but stepped down, putting an end to a five-party government that had ruled since March.

After 10 days of negotiations between the same parties, King Albert II appointed Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61, a member of the same party as Leterme, to form a new government.

On Tuesday, van Rompuy concluded a coalition deal with the same five parties: the French- and Dutch-speaking liberals and conservatives and the French-speaking socialists.

The king swore the government in on the same day. Eighteen of the 22 ministers served in the same posts in Leterme's government.

Van Rompuy now faces the task of steering Belgium through the current financial and economic crisis and brokering a deal between the country's feuding Dutch- and French-speaking regions on the division of power and wealth between them.

The feud has poisoned relations between Belgium's language-based political parties ever since elections in March 2007. The country has seen three separate governments since then, and spent over nine months in caretaker rule. (dpa)