Monarchy of Belgium
Encyclopedia
Monarchy in Belgium is constitutional
and popular
in nature. The hereditary monarch
, at present Albert II
, is the head of state
and is officially called King of the Belgians .
became independent in 1830 the National Congress
chose a constitutional monarchy
as the form of government
. The Congress voted on the question on 22 November 1830, supporting monarchy by 174 votes to 13. In February 1831, the Congress nominated Louis, Duke of Nemours
, the son of the French
king Louis-Philippe
, but international considerations deterred Louis-Philippe from accepting the honour for his son.
Following this refusal, the National Congress appointed Erasme-Louis, Baron Surlet de Chokier
to be the Regent
of Belgium on 25 February 1831, thus becoming the first head of state of independent Belgium. Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
was designated as King of the Belgians by the National Congress
and swore allegiance to the Belgian constitution in front of Sint Jacobs Church at Coudenberg
Palace in Brussels
on July 21. This day has since become a national holiday
for Belgium and its citizens.
. The royal office of King is designated solely for a descendent of the first King of the Belgians, Leopold I.
Since he is bound by the Constitution (above all other ideological and religious considerations, political opinions and debates and economic interests) the King acts as an arbiter and guardian of Belgium's unity and independence. Belgium's monarchs are inaugurated without the blessing of the Catholic Church in a purely civil swearing-in ceremony. These words (above all other ideological and religious considerations, political opinions and debates and economic interests) are not written in the Belgian constitution: nevertheless, they conform with the spirit of this Constitution. There have occurrences, however, of Belgian monarchs not always respecting this spirit.
. Nevertheless, in 1961, the historian Ramon Arango, wrote that the Belgian monarchy is not truly constitutional.
was head of Foreign Affairs as an ancient régime monarch, the foreign ministers having the authority to do so only as ministers of the king. Leopold I quickly became one of the most important shareholders of the Société Générale de Belgique
In many circumstances Leopold's son, Leopold II of Belgium
, publicly expressed opinion against that of the Government (on 15 August 1887, against Prime Minister Auguste Marie François Beernaert
), or some MP's (again against Beernaert in 1905). For Yvon Gouet this behavior was not in compliance with the parliamentary system.
Also, at the start of World War I
, Albert I of Belgium
stated he was in command of the Belgian army
contrary to his Prime Minister
Charles de Broqueville
and, according to Raymond Fusilier, also against the Belgian Constitution Luc Schepens wrote similar opinions:"The two main casualties of World War I are the Constitution and the parliamentary regime. The king had a role out of proportion with the spirit of the Constitution". For instance, on 17 May 1926, in a public letter, Albert stated he had faith in the Henri Jaspar
government, before the Parliament passed a vote of confidence in this government.
of Leopold III from 1934 to 1940), thought the King's oath to the Constitution implied a royal position over and above the Constitution. He compared the King to a father, the head of a family According to Arango, Leopold III of Belgium
shared these views about the Belgian monarchy.
In 1991, towards the end of the reign of Baudouin I, Senator Yves de Wasseige, a former member of the Belgian Constitutional Court, cited four points of democracy which the Belgian Constitution lacks: 1. the King chooses the ministers, 2. the King is able to influence the ministers when he speaks with them about bills, projects and nominations, 3. the King promulgates bills, and, 4. the King must agree to any change of the Constitution
. "It should be observed that all monarchies have suffered periods of change as a result of which the power of the sovereign was reduced, but for the most part those periods occurred before the development of the system of constitutionnal monarchy and were steps leading to its establishment.". The characteristic evidence of this is in Great Britain where there was an evolution from the time when kings ruled through the agency of ministers to that time when ministers began to govern through the instrumentality of the Crown.
Unlike the British constitutional system, in Belgium the monarchy underwent a belated evolution which came after the establishment of the constitutional monarchical system because, in 1830-1831, an independent state, parliamentary system and monarchy were established simultaneously. Hans Daalder, Professor of political science at the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden wrote: "Did such simultaneous developments not result in a possible failure to lay down the limits of the royal prerogratives with some precision - which implied that the view of the King as the Keeper of the Nation, with rights and duties of its own, retained legitimacy?"
For Raymond Fusilier, the Belgian monarchy had to be placed - at least in the beginning - between the regimes where the king rules and the regime when the king does not rule but only reigns. The Belgian monarchy is closer to the principle the King does not rule But the Belgian kings were not only at the head of the dignified part of the Constitution. The Belgian monarchy is not merely symbolic, because it rules as far as the King agrees with his ministers. For Francis Delpérée
, to reign does not only mean to preside over ceremonies but also to take a part in the running of the State. The Belgian historian Jean Stengers
wrote that some foreigners believe the monarchy is indispensable to national unity. The King is but a piece over the political scene (in French literally translated: on the chessboard), but a piece which matters.
but also above other conflicts. Arango concluded by saying about the General strike against Leopold III of Belgium
: Why had the major antagonists reached such an impasse by midsummer of 1950? A modern constitutional monarch is the embodiment of historical unity and national self-identification, but he functions successfully in this capacity only if there already exists a tradition common to each of his subjects and if the people, of which he is the reflection, are whole and able to be mirrored in a single, undistorted image. The monarch, in other words, is the result, not the cause of homogeneity and consensus. The question of consensus is at the center of the royal question. For the average Belgian, the affair focused all the other issues over which there was a lack of harmony in Belgian society – the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and economic problems...
Arango is of the opinion that the inhabitants of Belgium do not share a common tradition but that throughout the centuries the Flemish and Walloons maintained separate identities. He wrote that, at the time of the Belgian revolution
of 1830, they were still separate, living in separate territories from the beginning, "and even to the present".
To date all have belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
linked to the people of Belgium (i.e., a living and hereditary Head of State; yet ratified by popular will), whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional
or absolute monarchy
linked to territory or state. For example, in 1830, King Louis Philippe
was proclaimed "King of the French
" rather than "King of France". The Greek monarch was titled "King of the Hellenes", indicating a personal link with the people
, not just the state
. Moreover, the Latin
translation of "King of Belgium" would have been Rex Belgii, which from 1815 was the name for the King of the Netherlands. Therefore, the Belgian separatists chose Rex Belgarum.
Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition of the new monarch automatically ascending the throne upon the death or abdication of the former monarch. According to the Belgian constitution, the monarch accedes to the throne only upon taking a constitutional oath. The present king did not become monarch on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9, 1993 when he took the constitutional oath. In all other European monarchies, the monarch assumes the title the moment the predecessor dies or abdicates. The Belgian constitutional oath is as follows: "I swear to observe the Constitution
and the laws of the Belgian people, to maintain the national independence and the integrity of the territory.", which is taken in the three official languages: French
, Dutch
and German
.
Members of the Belgian Royal Family are often known by two names: a Dutch and a French one. For example, the current heir-apparent is called 'Philippe' in French and 'Filip' in Dutch; the fifth King of the Belgians was 'Baudouin' in French and 'Boudewijn' in Dutch.
In the other official language of German monarchs are usually referred to by their French names. The same is true for English
(with the exception of Leopold, where the accent is removed for the purpose of simplicity).
The Belgian monarchy symbolises and maintains a feeling of national unity by representing the country in public functions and international meetings.
In addition, the monarch has a number of responsibilities in the process of the formation of the Government. The procedure usually begins with the nomination of the "Informateur" by the monarch. After the general election the Informateur officially informs the monarch of the main political formations which may be available for governance. After this phase, the monarch can appoint another "informateur" or appoint a "Formateur
", who will have the charge of forming a new government, of which he/she generally becomes the Prime Minister.
The Belgian Constitution
entrusts the monarch with federal executive powers: the appointment and dismissal of ministers, the implementation of the laws passed by the Federal Parliament
, the submission of bills to the Federal Parliament and the management of international relations. The monarch sanctions and promulgates all laws passed by Parliament. In accordance with Article 106 of the Belgian Constitution, the monarch cannot act without the countersignature of the responsible minister, who in doing so assumes political responsibility. This means that federal executive power is exercised in practice by the Federal Government
, which is accountable to the Chamber of Representatives in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution.
The monarch receives the prime minister at the Palace of Brussels at least once a week, and also regularly calls other members of the government to the palace in order to discuss political matters. During these meetings, the monarch has the right to be informed of proposed governmental policies, the right to advise, and the right to warn on any matter as the monarch sees fit. The monarch also holds meetings with the leaders of all the major political parties and regular members of parliament. All of these meetings are organised by the monarch's personal political cabinet which is part of the Royal Household.
The monarch is the Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian Armed Forces and makes appointments to the higher positions. The names of the nominees are sent to the monarch by the Ministry of Defence. The monarch's military duties are carried out with the help of the Military Household which is headed by a General office. Belgians may write to the monarch when they meet difficulties with administrative powers.
The monarch is also one of the three components of the federal legislative power, in accordance with the Belgian Constitution, together with the two chambers of the Federal Parliament
: the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate
. All laws passed by the Federal Parliament must be signed and promulgated by the monarch.
Article 88 of the Belgian Constitution
provides that "the King's person is inviolable, his ministers are responsible". This means that the King cannot be prosecuted, arrested or convicted of crimes, cannot be summoned to appear before a civil court and is not accountable to the Federal Parliament
. This inviolability was deemed incompatible with Article 27 of the Rome Statute
of the International Criminal Court
which states that official capacity shall not exempt a person from criminal responsibility under the statute.
The following departments currently make up the King's Household:
The King's Chief of Cabinet is responsible for dealing with political and administrative matters and for maintaining the relations with the government, trade unions and industrial circles. In relation to the King, the Chief assists in keeping track of current events; informs regarding all aspects of Belgian life; proposes and prepares audiences; assists in preparing speeches and informs the King about developments in international affairs. The Chief of Cabinet is assisted by the Deputy and Legal Adviser, the Press Adviser and the Archivist. The incumbent Chief of Cabinet is Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou
, who is reportedly sometimes referred to as viceroy
, Richelieu or Rasputin
.
The Head of the King's Military Household assists the King in fulfilling his duties in the field of defence. He informs the King about all matters of security, defence policy, the views of Belgium's main partner countries and all aspects of the Belgian Armed Forces
. He organises the King's contacts with the Armed Forces, advises in the fields of scientific research and police and coordinates matters with patriotic associations and former service personnel. The Military Household is also responsible for managing the Palace's computer system. The Head of the Military Household is a General Officer, currently General
Jef Van den put and assisted by an adviser, currently Lieutenant-Colonel Aviator
Serge Vassart. The King's Aides-de-Camp
and the King's Equerries
are also attached to the Military Household.
The King's Aides-de-Camp are senior officers chosen by the monarch and charged with carrying out certain tasks on his behalf, such as representing him at events. The King's Equerries are young officers who take turns prepareing the King's activities, informing him about all the aspects that may be important to him and providing any other useful services such as announcing visitors. The Equerry accompanies the King on his trips except for those of a strictly private nature.
The Intendant of the King's Civil List is responsible for managing the material, financial and human resources of the King's Household. He is assisted by the Commandant of the Royal Palaces, the Treasurer of the King's Civil List and the Civil List Adviser. The Intendant of the Civil List also advises the King in the field of energy, sciences and culture and administers the King's hunting rights. The Commandant of the Royal Palaces is mainly in charge, in close cooperation with the Chief of Protocol, of the logistic support of activities and the maintenance and cleaning of the Palaces, Castles and Residences. He is also Director of the Royal Hunts.
The Chief of Protocol is charged with organising the public engagements of the King and the Queen, such as audiences, receptions and official banquets at the Palace, as well as formal activities outside of the Palace. He is assisted by the Queen's Secretary, who is mainly responsible for proposing and preparing the Queen's audiences and visits.
The Head of the Department for Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs advises the King in the economic, social and cultural fields. He is also responsible for providing coordination between the various Households and Services and for organising and minuting the meetings of the Steering Committee. The Head of the Department for Foreign Relations informs the King of developments in international policy, assists the King from a diplomatic viewpoint on royal visits abroad and prepares the King's audiences in the international field. He is also responsible for maintaining contacts with foreign diplomatic missions. The Head of the Department of Petitions is charged with processing petitions and requests for social aid addressed the King, the Queen or other members of the Royal Family. He is also responsible for the analysis and coordination of royal favours and activities relating to jubilees, and advises the King in the fields for which he is responsible.
For the personal protection of the King and the Royal Family, as well as for the surveillance of the royal estates, the Belgian Federal Police
at all times provides a Security Detail to the Royal Palace, commanded by a Chief Police Commissioner.
There are currently two other Households at the Belgian Court: the Household of Her Majesty Queen Fabiola and the Household of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Brabant. The other members of the Royal Family have a Service at their disposal.
. Prior to World War I
they used the additional titles Prince (Princess) of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Duke (Duchess) of Saxony as members of the House of Wettin. The children and husband of Princess Astrid would not be entitled to these titles as they belong to a different agnatic line, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine-Este.
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
and popular
Popular monarchy
Popular monarchy is a system of monarchical governance in which the monarch's title is linked with a popular mandate rather than a constitutional state. It was the norm in some places from the Middle Ages, and was occasionally used in 19th- and 20th-century Europe, often reflecting the results of...
in nature. The hereditary monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, at present Albert II
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, is the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and is officially called King of the Belgians .
Origins
When BelgiumBelgium
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...
became independent in 1830 the National Congress
National Congress of Belgium
The Belgian National Congress was a temporary legislative assembly in 1830, established shortly after the Provisional Government of Belgium had proclaimed Belgian independence on October 4 of that year...
chose a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
as the form of government
Form of government
A form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized. Synonyms include "regime type" and "system of government".-Empirical and conceptual problems:...
. The Congress voted on the question on 22 November 1830, supporting monarchy by 174 votes to 13. In February 1831, the Congress nominated Louis, Duke of Nemours
Louis, Duke of Nemours
Prince Louis of Orléans was the second son of the future King Louis-Philippe I of France, and his wife Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily. Under the reign of his father from 1830–1848, he was styled as Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours.-Childhood:He was born at the Palais Royal, in Paris...
, the son of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
king Louis-Philippe
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
, but international considerations deterred Louis-Philippe from accepting the honour for his son.
Following this refusal, the National Congress appointed Erasme-Louis, Baron Surlet de Chokier
Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier
Erasme Louis, Baron Surlet de Chokier , born in Liège, was a Belgian politician and before the accession of Leopold I to the Belgian throne, was the first Regent of Belgium....
to be the Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Belgium on 25 February 1831, thus becoming the first head of state of independent Belgium. Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
was designated as King of the Belgians by the National Congress
and swore allegiance to the Belgian constitution in front of Sint Jacobs Church at Coudenberg
Coudenberg
Coudenberg or Koudenberg is a small hill in Brussels where the Palace of Coudenberg was built.For nearly 700 years, the Castle and then the Palace of Coudenberg were the seat of government of the counts, dukes, archdukes, kings, emperors and governors who from the 11th century until its...
Palace in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
on July 21. This day has since become a national holiday
National Day
The National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a nation or non-sovereign country. This nationhood can be symbolized by the date of independence, of becoming republic or a significant date for a patron saint or a ruler . Often the day is not called "National Day"...
for Belgium and its citizens.
A hereditary and constitutional system
As a hereditary constitutional monarchy system, the role and operation of Belgium's monarchy is governed by the ConstitutionConstitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
. The royal office of King is designated solely for a descendent of the first King of the Belgians, Leopold I.
Since he is bound by the Constitution (above all other ideological and religious considerations, political opinions and debates and economic interests) the King acts as an arbiter and guardian of Belgium's unity and independence. Belgium's monarchs are inaugurated without the blessing of the Catholic Church in a purely civil swearing-in ceremony. These words (above all other ideological and religious considerations, political opinions and debates and economic interests) are not written in the Belgian constitution: nevertheless, they conform with the spirit of this Constitution. There have occurrences, however, of Belgian monarchs not always respecting this spirit.
A constitutional monarchy from the beginning
The Kingdom of Belgium was never an absolute monarchyAbsolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
. Nevertheless, in 1961, the historian Ramon Arango, wrote that the Belgian monarchy is not truly constitutional.
Leopold I, Leopold II, Albert I
Leopold I of BelgiumLeopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
was head of Foreign Affairs as an ancient régime monarch, the foreign ministers having the authority to do so only as ministers of the king. Leopold I quickly became one of the most important shareholders of the Société Générale de Belgique
Société Générale de Belgique
The Société Générale de Belgique was one of the largest companies that ever existed in Belgium. It was founded in 1822 by William I, and existed until 2003, when its then sole shareholder, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, merged it with Tractebel to form Suez-Tractebel.-History:As part of the terms of the...
In many circumstances Leopold's son, Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
, publicly expressed opinion against that of the Government (on 15 August 1887, against Prime Minister Auguste Marie François Beernaert
Auguste Marie Francois Beernaert
Auguste Marie François Beernaert was the 14th Prime Minister of Belgium from October 1884 to March 1894....
), or some MP's (again against Beernaert in 1905). For Yvon Gouet this behavior was not in compliance with the parliamentary system.
Also, at the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Albert I of Belgium
Albert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
stated he was in command of the Belgian army
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
contrary to his Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Charles de Broqueville
Charles de Broqueville
Charles Marie Pierre Albert, Count de Broqueville was the 20th Prime Minister of Belgium, serving during World War I. He was born in Postel, Belgium. He was the leader of Belgium's Catholic Party, and he served as prime minister between 1911 and 1918...
and, according to Raymond Fusilier, also against the Belgian Constitution Luc Schepens wrote similar opinions:"The two main casualties of World War I are the Constitution and the parliamentary regime. The king had a role out of proportion with the spirit of the Constitution". For instance, on 17 May 1926, in a public letter, Albert stated he had faith in the Henri Jaspar
Henri Jaspar
Henri Jaspar was a Belgian Catholic Party politician.Jaspar was born in Schaerbeek and trained as a lawyer. He represented Liège as a Catholic in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives from 1919 until 1936. He helped create the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union in 1921, and served as the 27th...
government, before the Parliament passed a vote of confidence in this government.
Leopold III, Baudouin I
Louis Wodon (the chef de cabinetChief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Leopold III from 1934 to 1940), thought the King's oath to the Constitution implied a royal position over and above the Constitution. He compared the King to a father, the head of a family According to Arango, Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
shared these views about the Belgian monarchy.
In 1991, towards the end of the reign of Baudouin I, Senator Yves de Wasseige, a former member of the Belgian Constitutional Court, cited four points of democracy which the Belgian Constitution lacks: 1. the King chooses the ministers, 2. the King is able to influence the ministers when he speaks with them about bills, projects and nominations, 3. the King promulgates bills, and, 4. the King must agree to any change of the Constitution
Constitutional, political and historical consequences
The Belgian monarchy was immediately a constitutional monarchy, patterned after that of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. "It should be observed that all monarchies have suffered periods of change as a result of which the power of the sovereign was reduced, but for the most part those periods occurred before the development of the system of constitutionnal monarchy and were steps leading to its establishment.". The characteristic evidence of this is in Great Britain where there was an evolution from the time when kings ruled through the agency of ministers to that time when ministers began to govern through the instrumentality of the Crown.
Unlike the British constitutional system, in Belgium the monarchy underwent a belated evolution which came after the establishment of the constitutional monarchical system because, in 1830-1831, an independent state, parliamentary system and monarchy were established simultaneously. Hans Daalder, Professor of political science at the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden wrote: "Did such simultaneous developments not result in a possible failure to lay down the limits of the royal prerogratives with some precision - which implied that the view of the King as the Keeper of the Nation, with rights and duties of its own, retained legitimacy?"
For Raymond Fusilier, the Belgian monarchy had to be placed - at least in the beginning - between the regimes where the king rules and the regime when the king does not rule but only reigns. The Belgian monarchy is closer to the principle the King does not rule But the Belgian kings were not only at the head of the dignified part of the Constitution. The Belgian monarchy is not merely symbolic, because it rules as far as the King agrees with his ministers. For Francis Delpérée
Francis Delpérée
Francis Delpérée is a Belgian politician and a member of the cdH. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 2007.-Notes:...
, to reign does not only mean to preside over ceremonies but also to take a part in the running of the State. The Belgian historian Jean Stengers
Jean Stengers
Jean Stengers was a Belgian historian.A precocious and brilliant student, Stengers entered the Free University of Brussels in 1939, at the age of 17. He published his first scholarly article two years later in the Belgian Review of Philology and History...
wrote that some foreigners believe the monarchy is indispensable to national unity. The King is but a piece over the political scene (in French literally translated: on the chessboard), but a piece which matters.
The monarch is the result not the cause of homogeneity and consensus
Author Ramon Arango thought that the Belgian monarchy is not truly constitutional or is perhaps a constitutional monarchy but whose sovereign is granted power disproportionate to that of a constitutional monarch in order that he accomplish an authoritative function, the maintenance of national unity mainly above the provincial conflicts of Wallonia and FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
but also above other conflicts. Arango concluded by saying about the General strike against Leopold III of Belgium
General strike against Leopold III of Belgium
The Royal Question refers to the 1950 political conflict surrounding the question whether King Leopold III should return to Belgium after World War II. A referendum was organised, in which the majority voted in favour of his return...
: Why had the major antagonists reached such an impasse by midsummer of 1950? A modern constitutional monarch is the embodiment of historical unity and national self-identification, but he functions successfully in this capacity only if there already exists a tradition common to each of his subjects and if the people, of which he is the reflection, are whole and able to be mirrored in a single, undistorted image. The monarch, in other words, is the result, not the cause of homogeneity and consensus. The question of consensus is at the center of the royal question. For the average Belgian, the affair focused all the other issues over which there was a lack of harmony in Belgian society – the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and economic problems...
Arango is of the opinion that the inhabitants of Belgium do not share a common tradition but that throughout the centuries the Flemish and Walloons maintained separate identities. He wrote that, at the time of the Belgian revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
of 1830, they were still separate, living in separate territories from the beginning, "and even to the present".
List of Kings of the Belgians
To date all have belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is a German dynasty, the senior line of the Saxon House of Wettin that ruled the Ernestine duchies, including the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha....
Title
The proper title of the Belgian monarch is King of the Belgians rather than "King of Belgium". The title "King of the Belgians" indicates a popular monarchyPopular monarchy
Popular monarchy is a system of monarchical governance in which the monarch's title is linked with a popular mandate rather than a constitutional state. It was the norm in some places from the Middle Ages, and was occasionally used in 19th- and 20th-century Europe, often reflecting the results of...
linked to the people of Belgium (i.e., a living and hereditary Head of State; yet ratified by popular will), whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
or absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
linked to territory or state. For example, in 1830, King Louis Philippe
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
was proclaimed "King of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
" rather than "King of France". The Greek monarch was titled "King of the Hellenes", indicating a personal link with the people
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
, not just the state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
. Moreover, the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translation of "King of Belgium" would have been Rex Belgii, which from 1815 was the name for the King of the Netherlands. Therefore, the Belgian separatists chose Rex Belgarum.
Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition of the new monarch automatically ascending the throne upon the death or abdication of the former monarch. According to the Belgian constitution, the monarch accedes to the throne only upon taking a constitutional oath. The present king did not become monarch on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9, 1993 when he took the constitutional oath. In all other European monarchies, the monarch assumes the title the moment the predecessor dies or abdicates. The Belgian constitutional oath is as follows: "I swear to observe the Constitution
Constitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
and the laws of the Belgian people, to maintain the national independence and the integrity of the territory.", which is taken in the three official languages: 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...
, 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...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
Members of the Belgian Royal Family are often known by two names: a Dutch and a French one. For example, the current heir-apparent is called 'Philippe' in French and 'Filip' in Dutch; the fifth King of the Belgians was 'Baudouin' in French and 'Boudewijn' in Dutch.
In the other official language of German monarchs are usually referred to by their French names. The same is true for 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...
(with the exception of Leopold, where the accent is removed for the purpose of simplicity).
Constitutional role
In addition, the monarch has a number of responsibilities in the process of the formation of the Government. The procedure usually begins with the nomination of the "Informateur" by the monarch. After the general election the Informateur officially informs the monarch of the main political formations which may be available for governance. After this phase, the monarch can appoint another "informateur" or appoint a "Formateur
Formateur
A formateur is a politician who is appointed by the head of state to lead the formation of a coalition government, after either a general election or the collapse of a previous government. The role of the formateur is especially important in the politics of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg,...
", who will have the charge of forming a new government, of which he/she generally becomes the Prime Minister.
The Belgian Constitution
Constitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
entrusts the monarch with federal executive powers: the appointment and dismissal of ministers, the implementation of the laws passed by the Federal Parliament
Belgian Federal Parliament
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...
, the submission of bills to the Federal Parliament and the management of international relations. The monarch sanctions and promulgates all laws passed by Parliament. In accordance with Article 106 of the Belgian Constitution, the monarch cannot act without the countersignature of the responsible minister, who in doing so assumes political responsibility. This means that federal executive power is exercised in practice by the Federal Government
Belgian federal government
The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
, which is accountable to the Chamber of Representatives in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution.
The monarch receives the prime minister at the Palace of Brussels at least once a week, and also regularly calls other members of the government to the palace in order to discuss political matters. During these meetings, the monarch has the right to be informed of proposed governmental policies, the right to advise, and the right to warn on any matter as the monarch sees fit. The monarch also holds meetings with the leaders of all the major political parties and regular members of parliament. All of these meetings are organised by the monarch's personal political cabinet which is part of the Royal Household.
The monarch is the Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian Armed Forces and makes appointments to the higher positions. The names of the nominees are sent to the monarch by the Ministry of Defence. The monarch's military duties are carried out with the help of the Military Household which is headed by a General office. Belgians may write to the monarch when they meet difficulties with administrative powers.
The monarch is also one of the three components of the federal legislative power, in accordance with the Belgian Constitution, together with the two chambers of the Federal Parliament
Belgian Federal Parliament
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...
: the Chamber of Representatives and the 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:...
. All laws passed by the Federal Parliament must be signed and promulgated by the monarch.
Inviolability
Constitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
provides that "the King's person is inviolable, his ministers are responsible". This means that the King cannot be prosecuted, arrested or convicted of crimes, cannot be summoned to appear before a civil court and is not accountable to the Federal Parliament
Belgian Federal Parliament
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...
. This inviolability was deemed incompatible with Article 27 of the Rome Statute
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court . It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. As of 13 October 2011, 119 states are party to the statute...
of the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
which states that official capacity shall not exempt a person from criminal responsibility under the statute.
Royal Household
The King's Household was reorganised in 2006, and consists of seven autonomous departments and the Court's Steering Committee. Each Head of Department is responsible for his department and is accountable to the King.The following departments currently make up the King's Household:
- the Department for Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs
- the King's Cabinet
- the King's Military Household
- the King's Civil List
- the Department for Foreign Relations
- the Department of the Protocol of the Court
- the Department of Petitions
The King's Chief of Cabinet is responsible for dealing with political and administrative matters and for maintaining the relations with the government, trade unions and industrial circles. In relation to the King, the Chief assists in keeping track of current events; informs regarding all aspects of Belgian life; proposes and prepares audiences; assists in preparing speeches and informs the King about developments in international affairs. The Chief of Cabinet is assisted by the Deputy and Legal Adviser, the Press Adviser and the Archivist. The incumbent Chief of Cabinet is Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou
Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou
Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou , is the Principal Private Secretary to the King of Belgium. When Albert II of Belgium succeeded his brother Baudouin I of Belgium, he kept his private secretary, so Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou has served two kings...
, who is reportedly sometimes referred to as viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
, Richelieu or Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
.
The Head of the King's Military Household assists the King in fulfilling his duties in the field of defence. He informs the King about all matters of security, defence policy, the views of Belgium's main partner countries and all aspects of the Belgian Armed Forces
Military of Belgium
The Belgian Army is the national military of Belgium. The Belgian Army was established after Belgium became independent in October 1830...
. He organises the King's contacts with the Armed Forces, advises in the fields of scientific research and police and coordinates matters with patriotic associations and former service personnel. The Military Household is also responsible for managing the Palace's computer system. The Head of the Military Household is a General Officer, currently General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Jef Van den put and assisted by an adviser, currently Lieutenant-Colonel Aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
Serge Vassart. The King's Aides-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
and the King's Equerries
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
are also attached to the Military Household.
The King's Aides-de-Camp are senior officers chosen by the monarch and charged with carrying out certain tasks on his behalf, such as representing him at events. The King's Equerries are young officers who take turns prepareing the King's activities, informing him about all the aspects that may be important to him and providing any other useful services such as announcing visitors. The Equerry accompanies the King on his trips except for those of a strictly private nature.
The Intendant of the King's Civil List is responsible for managing the material, financial and human resources of the King's Household. He is assisted by the Commandant of the Royal Palaces, the Treasurer of the King's Civil List and the Civil List Adviser. The Intendant of the Civil List also advises the King in the field of energy, sciences and culture and administers the King's hunting rights. The Commandant of the Royal Palaces is mainly in charge, in close cooperation with the Chief of Protocol, of the logistic support of activities and the maintenance and cleaning of the Palaces, Castles and Residences. He is also Director of the Royal Hunts.
The Chief of Protocol is charged with organising the public engagements of the King and the Queen, such as audiences, receptions and official banquets at the Palace, as well as formal activities outside of the Palace. He is assisted by the Queen's Secretary, who is mainly responsible for proposing and preparing the Queen's audiences and visits.
The Head of the Department for Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs advises the King in the economic, social and cultural fields. He is also responsible for providing coordination between the various Households and Services and for organising and minuting the meetings of the Steering Committee. The Head of the Department for Foreign Relations informs the King of developments in international policy, assists the King from a diplomatic viewpoint on royal visits abroad and prepares the King's audiences in the international field. He is also responsible for maintaining contacts with foreign diplomatic missions. The Head of the Department of Petitions is charged with processing petitions and requests for social aid addressed the King, the Queen or other members of the Royal Family. He is also responsible for the analysis and coordination of royal favours and activities relating to jubilees, and advises the King in the fields for which he is responsible.
For the personal protection of the King and the Royal Family, as well as for the surveillance of the royal estates, the Belgian Federal Police
Federal Police (Belgium)
The Federal Police carry out specialized police and investigation missions that cover more than one region in Belgium. The federal police have approximately 12,500 personnel that provide support units for the local police and the federal police itself....
at all times provides a Security Detail to the Royal Palace, commanded by a Chief Police Commissioner.
There are currently two other Households at the Belgian Court: the Household of Her Majesty Queen Fabiola and the Household of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Brabant. The other members of the Royal Family have a Service at their disposal.
Members of the Belgian Royal Family
Members of the Royal Family hold the title Prince (Princess) of Belgium with the style of Royal HighnessRoyal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...
. Prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
they used the additional titles Prince (Princess) of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Duke (Duchess) of Saxony as members of the House of Wettin. The children and husband of Princess Astrid would not be entitled to these titles as they belong to a different agnatic line, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine-Este.
- Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant (born April 15, 1960). He married, on December 4, 1999, Jonkvrouwe Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, who was created HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium a day before their marriage. She is a daughter of the late Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz and his wife, Countess Anna Maria KomorowskaAnna Maria KomorowskaCountess Anna Maria d'Udekem d'Acoz is a Polish noblewoman and the mother of Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant, the wife of Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, heir to the Belgian throne....
. They have four children:- Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, who will inherit the throne after her father, due to a 1991 act of succession which created full cognatic primogeniturePrimogeniturePrimogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, altering the order of succession from eldest son to eldest child. - Prince Gabriel of Belgium
- Prince Emmanuel of Belgium
- Princess Eléonore of Belgium.
- Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, who will inherit the throne after her father, due to a 1991 act of succession which created full cognatic primogeniture
- Princess Astrid of Belgium (born June 5, 1962). She is the wife of His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Modena, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, whom she married on September 22, 1984 and who was created a Prince of Belgium in 1995. Princess Astrid, with her own descendants, is before her brother Laurent in the order of succession to the Belgian throne, due to the 1991 act of succession mentioned above. They have five children:
- Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este
- Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este
- Prince Joachim of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este
- Princess Luisa Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este
- Princess Laetitia Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este
- Prince Laurent of Belgium (born October 19, 1963). He married Claire CoombsPrincess Claire of BelgiumPrincess Claire of Belgium, is the wife of Prince Laurent of Belgium and is a land surveyor.- Biography :...
, an Anglo-Belgian former land surveyorSurveyingSee Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, on April 12, 2003. She was created HRH Princess Claire of Belgium 11 days before their marriage. They have one daughter and two sons:- Princess Louise of BelgiumPrincess Louise of BelgiumPrincess Louise of Belgium born Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 6 February 2004, is the first child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. She is currently 13th in the line of succession to the Belgian throne.-Family:...
- Prince Nicolas of BelgiumPrince Nicolas of BelgiumPrince Nicolas of Belgium born Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 13 December 2005, is the second child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. He is currently 14th in the line of succession to the Belgian throne....
- Prince Aymeric of BelgiumPrince Aymeric of BelgiumPrince Aymeric of Belgium , is the third child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium...
- Princess Louise of Belgium
Queens consort
- Queen Louise — Louise d'OrléansLouise of OrléansLouise of Orléans was born a Princess of Orléans and was Queen consort of the Belgians as the wife of King Leopold I...
(second wife of King Leopold I, whose first wife Princess Charlotte of WalesPrincess Charlotte Augusta of WalesPrincess Charlotte of Wales was the only child of George, Prince of Wales and Caroline of Brunswick...
had died before he came to the throne. Subsequently, Leopold's only daughter, Carlota of Mexico, was named after her.) - Queen Marie Henriette — Marie Henriette of AustriaMarie Henriette of AustriaMarie Henriette of Austria was the queen consort of King Leopold II of Belgium.-Family:...
(wife of King Leopold II) - Queen Elisabeth — Elisabeth of Bavaria)Elisabeth of Bavaria (1876-1965)Elisabeth of Bavaria , was the queen consort of Albert I of Belgium and was the mother of Leopold III of Belgium and grandmother of Baudouin I of Belgium and Albert II of Belgium.-Family:Born in Possenhofen Castle, her father was Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, an ophthalmologist of...
(wife of Albert I) - Queen Astrid — Astrid of SwedenAstrid of SwedenAstrid of Sweden was Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Leopold III.-Early life:Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on 17 November 1905...
(wife of King Leopold III) - Princess Lilian — Mary Lilian Baels (as Princess de Réthy second wife of King Leopold III)
- Queen Fabiola — Fabiola de Mora y Aragón (wife of King Baudouin)
- Queen Paola — Paola Ruffo di CalabriaQueen Paola of BelgiumPaola, Queen of the Belgians , is the queen consort of Albert II of Belgium....
(wife of King Albert II)
See also
- List of Belgian monarchs
- Line of succession to the Belgian throneLine of succession to the Belgian ThroneSince 1991, Belgium practises absolute cognatic primogeniture but this only applies to the descendants of King Albert II, effectively barring the female descended offspring of Leopold II, Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, Albert I and Leopold III from the throne...
- Crown Council of BelgiumCrown Council of BelgiumThe Crown Council of Belgium is composed of the King of the Belgians, the Ministers and the Ministers of State. The King chairs the Crown Council...
External links
- The Belgian monarchy - official site of the Belgian Royal Family
- The Belgian monarchy - official brochure of the Belgium government
- What role for a Belgian monarch? - website Expatica.com