Prime Minister Michel's partner to welcome first ladies to Belgium

When Donald Trump and other government leaders come to Brussels on Thursday for the NATO summit, their partners will be received by Amélie Derbaudrenghien, the partner of Belgium's prime minister Charles Michel, said interior minister Jan Jambon.

The announcement comes in spite of rumours that federal secretary of state Zuhal Demir would play hostess to the first ladies. "I've already bought high heels to be able to greet Melania Trump," she said enthusiastically. Demir is responsible for the Brussels Museums of Fine Arts.

According to CD&V chairman Wouter Beke, however, Demir had invited herself for the reception, but plans changed within the government. "In the run-up to such a visit, things always change," confirmed Jambon. "And the first lady of this country will be the hostess for the other first ladies."

Some of the leading ladies to visit Brussels this week include Melania Trump, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan's wife Emine and Brigitte Trogneux, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron.