Politics and Government of the Brussels-Capital Region
Encyclopedia
The government of the Brussels-Capital Region is the political administration of the Brussels region
of Belgium
. An election is held every five years. The government is headed by a Minister-President (currently Charles Picqué
), four ministers and three state secretaries
.
Additionally, there is a Governor of the Brussels-Capital Region, who is appointed by the cabinet
and has the responsibility to enforce laws concerned with public order in the Brussels-Capital Region. The governor's powers are relatively limited.
The Brussels capital region is divided into 19 municipalities
. Each municipality
has its own government, responsible for the handling of local level duties, such as law enforcement and the upkeep of schools and roads within its borders. Municipal administration is also conducted by a mayor, a council, and an executive.
The Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region is also known as the Brussels Regional Parliament. It is the main decision-making body for the Brussels-Capital Region. Constitutionally, the parliament is made up of 72 French
-speaking members and 17 Dutch
-speaking members.
take place every five years. Following the 2009 regional election
, the composition of the Brussels Parliament is as follows:
and three regional secretaries of state
, who together form the cabinet of the Brussels-Capital Region.
The 89 members of the Brussels Parliament are divided into two language groups: 72 belong to the French
-speaking group and 17 members belong to the Dutch
-speaking group. The members of the French-speaking group also make up the Parlement francophone bruxellois (in English
: French-speaking Brussels Parliament), which was formerly known as the Assembly of the French Community Commission
, while the members of the Dutch-speaking group make up the Council of the Flemish Community Commission
. The Parlement francophone bruxellois and the Council of the Flemish Community Commission
together form the United Assembly of the Common Community Commission
. The Community Commissions are to a certain extent responsible for Community competencies within the Brussels-Capital Region.
19 of the 72 French-speaking members of the Brussels Parliament are also members of the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium. People voting for a Flemish party have to vote separately for 6 directly-elected members of the Flemish Parliament.
Due to the multiple capacities of single members, there are members of the Brussels Parliament who are at the same member of the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium
and of the Belgian Senate
as "community senators" for the French Community. However, there are certain restrictions in place in order to prevent one person from combining too many mandates. For instance, it is impossible to be a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and of one of the Regional Parliaments at the same time.
The cabinet
of the Brussels-Capital region comprises eight members, headed by a Minister-President. There are four ministers in the cabinet, two of which must be French-speaking and two Flemish. Of the three more junior Secretaries of State, at least one must be Flemish. The Minister-President is in practice always a francophone, so the cabinet
of the Region has 5 French-speaking and 3 Dutch-speaking members.
, Ecolo
and CDH formed a coalition with the Dutch-speaking parties Open VLD, CD&V en SP.A.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. An election is held every five years. The government is headed by a Minister-President (currently Charles Picqué
Charles Picqué
Charles Picqué is a Belgian, French-speaking politician. He is currently serving his second term as Minister-President of the Brussels Capital-Region....
), four ministers and three state secretaries
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
.
Additionally, there is a Governor of the Brussels-Capital Region, who is appointed by the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
and has the responsibility to enforce laws concerned with public order in the Brussels-Capital Region. The governor's powers are relatively limited.
The Brussels capital region is divided into 19 municipalities
Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region
The 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region are the political subdivisions of Belgium's central region...
. Each municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
has its own government, responsible for the handling of local level duties, such as law enforcement and the upkeep of schools and roads within its borders. Municipal administration is also conducted by a mayor, a council, and an executive.
Parliament
The Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region is also known as the Brussels Regional Parliament. It is the main decision-making body for the Brussels-Capital Region. Constitutionally, the parliament is made up of 72 French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking members and 17 Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
-speaking members.
Current composition
Elections of the 89 Brussels regional deputiesChamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
take place every five years. Following the 2009 regional election
Belgian regional elections, 2009
Regional elections were held in Belgium on 7 June 2009 to choose representatives in the regional councils of Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
, the composition of the Brussels Parliament is as follows:
| Party | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Reformist Movement Reformist Movement The Reformist Movement is a French-speaking liberal political party in Belgium. The party was in coalition as part of the Leterme II Government, and was also part of the governing coalition in the Walloon Region and Brussels-Capital Region until the 2004 regional elections... |
24 | |
| Socialist Party Socialist Party (francophone Belgium) The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party... |
21 | |
| Ecolo Ecolo Ecolo is a French-speaking Belgian green political party in Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium... |
16 | |
| Humanist Democratic Centre Humanist Democratic Centre The Humanist Democratic Centre is a Francophone Christian democratic political party in Belgium. The cdH currently participates in the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, the Government of the French Community and the Walloon Government.- History :... |
11 | |
| French language group total: | 72 | |
| Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats | 4 | |
| Different Socialist Party | 4 | |
| Flemish Interest Vlaams Belang Vlaams Belang is a Belgian far-right political party in the Flemish Region and Brussels that advocates the independence of Flanders and strict limits on immigration, whereby immigrants would be obliged to adopt Flemish culture and language... |
3 | |
| Flemish Liberals and Democrats | 3 | |
| Green! Green! Groen! is a Belgian green political party. Green! is the smallest Flemish party with a representation in the federal, regional or European parliament.-Before 1979:... |
2 | |
| New Flemish Alliance | 1 | |
| Dutch language group total: | 17 | |
| Total | 89 | |
Functions
The Brussels Parliament role mainly consists in controlling the government of the Brussels-Capital Region, approving the budget and creating and passing legislation in regional matters, known as ordinances, which are legally binding. One of its first tasks after the Parliament is renewed is appointing five ministersMinister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
and three regional secretaries of state
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
, who together form the cabinet of the Brussels-Capital Region.
The 89 members of the Brussels Parliament are divided into two language groups: 72 belong to the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking group and 17 members belong to the Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
-speaking group. The members of the French-speaking group also make up the Parlement francophone bruxellois (in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: French-speaking Brussels Parliament), which was formerly known as the Assembly of the French Community Commission
French Community Commission
The Commission communautaire française is the local representative of the French-speaking authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium....
, while the members of the Dutch-speaking group make up the Council of the Flemish Community Commission
Flemish Community Commission
The Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie is the local representative of the Flemish authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium...
. The Parlement francophone bruxellois and the Council of the Flemish Community Commission
Flemish Community Commission
The Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie is the local representative of the Flemish authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium...
together form the United Assembly of the Common Community Commission
Common Community Commission
The Common Community Commission is responsible for community matters that are common to both the French Community and the Flemish Community and for institutions that fall within the competencies of the Communities but do not belong exclusively to either Community in the Brussels-Capital Region of...
. The Community Commissions are to a certain extent responsible for Community competencies within the Brussels-Capital Region.
19 of the 72 French-speaking members of the Brussels Parliament are also members of the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium. People voting for a Flemish party have to vote separately for 6 directly-elected members of the Flemish Parliament.
Due to the multiple capacities of single members, there are members of the Brussels Parliament who are at the same member of the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium
French Community of Belgium
The French Community of Belgium is one of the three official communities in Belgium along with the Flemish Community and the German speaking Community. Although its name could suggest that it is a community of French citizens in Belgium, it is not...
and of the Belgian Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
as "community senators" for the French Community. However, there are certain restrictions in place in order to prevent one person from combining too many mandates. For instance, it is impossible to be a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and of one of the Regional Parliaments at the same time.
Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of the Brussels-Capital region comprises eight members, headed by a Minister-President. There are four ministers in the cabinet, two of which must be French-speaking and two Flemish. Of the three more junior Secretaries of State, at least one must be Flemish. The Minister-President is in practice always a francophone, so the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of the Region has 5 French-speaking and 3 Dutch-speaking members.
Composition 2004-2009
After the elections of 2004, the French-speaking parties PSSocialist Party (francophone Belgium)
The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party...
, Ecolo
Ecolo
Ecolo is a French-speaking Belgian green political party in Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
and CDH formed a coalition with the Dutch-speaking parties Open VLD, CD&V en SP.A.
| Cabinet of the Brussels-Capital Region - Picqué III | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Name |
List of governments
| Minister-President | Time in office | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Picqué Charles Picqué Charles Picqué is a Belgian, French-speaking politician. He is currently serving his second term as Minister-President of the Brussels Capital-Region.... (1st term) |
12 July 1989 - 22 June 1995 | PS Socialist Party (francophone Belgium) The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party... |
| Charles Picqué (2nd term) | 22 June 1995 - 15 July 1999 | PS Socialist Party (francophone Belgium) The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party... |
| Jacques Simonet Jacques Simonet Jacques Simonet was a Belgian politician and a former Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.He is the son of Henri Simonet, former Socialist Party minister and for many years mayor of Anderlecht. His mother Marie-Louise Angenet taught at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.He was born in... (1st term) |
15 July 1999 - 18 October 2000 | PRL |
| François-Xavier de Donnéa François-Xavier de Donnéa François Xavier Gustave Marie Joseph Corneille Hubert, Knight de Donnea de Hamoir is a Belgian politician and a former mayor of the City of Brussels and Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.... |
18 October 2000 - 6 June 2003 | PRL/MR |
| Daniel Ducarme Daniel Ducarme Daniel Ducarme was a Belgian politician and former Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.-Background and political affiliation:... |
6 June 2003 - 18 February 2004 | MR |
| Jacques Simonet (2nd term) | 18 February - 19 July 2004 | MR |
| Charles Picqué (3rd term) | 19 July 2004 - 19 July 2009 | PS |
| Charles Picqué (4th term) | 19 July 2009 - present | PS |
See also
- List of Ministers-President of the Brussels-Capital Region
- Flemish governmentFlemish governmentThe Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
- Government of the French CommunityGovernment of the French CommunityThe Cabinet of the French Community of Belgium is the executive branch of the French Community of Belgium, and it sits in Brussels. It consists of a number of ministers chosen by the Parliament of the French Community and is headed by a Minister-President....
External links
- Brussels-Capital Region. Centre d'Informatique pour la Région Bruxelloise (Brussels Regional Informatics Center)