Van Rompuy first entered government in 1993, when he became vice prime minister and budget minister in the Dehaene administrations, which were known for budgetary restraint. Before that, he was president of the Christian Democrat CVP (later renamed CD&V), one of the toughest jobs in Belgian politics.

At the time, Van Rompuy, along with his brother Eric, had gained something of a reputation as a staunch Catholic, with strict views on ethical issues. Some unfortunate remarks of Eric Van Rompuy, former Flemish minister, about a number of Flemish authors such as Tom Lanoye, only reinforced this image. Because of this, Herman Van Rompuy was often portrayed as some kind of Mephisto within his party CVP (which can be a snake pit at times). When his successor divorced, Van Rompuy gave him the advice to “practice the virtue of hypocrisy,” a legendary quote that is often deliberately misinterpreted.

Over the years, this conservative image (or the man himself) has become milder. One thing, however, remains true: Van Rompuy abhors change for the sake of change. He resisted it whenever his party tried to “renew” itself to appeal to the younger generation; he did so again when the government under Guy Verhofstadt promised that everything would be different. He also shuddered when Yves Leterme, spurred on by his party’s small nationalist partner N-VA, headed for confrontation with the francophones.

During the 2003 federal campaign, Verhofstadt portrayed Van Rompuy as a “nasty dream of a pale little man sizing up his office” – a remark for which he later apologised. Van Rompuy’s tactic has always been to sit it out. He did this to such an extent that, up until last year, no-one – and certainly not Van Rompuy – ever thought he would take a prominent role in politics again.

He seemed to have withdrawn to his books and website, where he publishes philosophical reflections and haiku. But how the world turns. By the end of 2008, Van Rompuy – against his will! – had to take over from Yves Leterme as prime minister. And although his government is mostly known for doing nothing, the prime minister has become somewhat of an icon, best summarised by his motto of “peaceful steadiness”.