State reform in Belgium

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

State reform, in the context of

communities, regions, and language areas.[1]

Short overview

Background

Language problems

The tensions between the communities of Belgium arose around a struggle between the two main language communities of the country: Dutch and French. That resulted in extensive language legislation but did not solve the conflicts between Flanders and Wallonia, the two main regions of the country. Widespread discrimination against Flemings, symbolized by the bad treatment of Flemish soldiers during World War I, made the Flemish organise against the mostly French-speaking government. After World War II, the differences between Dutch-speaking Belgians and French-speaking Belgians became clear in a number of conflicts.

In 1950, a referendum on the position of

Royal Question was whether he should be allowed to return to the throne, in view of his position during World War II. Nationally, 58% of voters supported the restoration of Leopold III. However, there were strong regional differences. Of those who voted, 72% percent of the people in Flanders were in favor of his return, but 56% in Wallonia and 52% Brussels opposed his return. With the support of greater than half of Belgians, Leopold III returned to the throne. Following his restoration, anger among Leopold's opponents in Wallonia and Brussels grew into rioting that the government had struggled to contain. Pressure from the government forced Leopold III to abdicate
.

In 1960, the CatholicLiberal government of Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens introduced a number of budget cuts. French-language trade unions went on strike against the cuts and against the government. They felt that a more regionalized system was needed to take the measures that Wallonia needed and that the Walloon interests were hurt by a Flemish majority in Belgium. They spoke of un état belgo-flamand, a Belgian-Flemish state. In response to the strikes, the government announced a regionalization of socio-economic policies.

Another tension between the language communities involved the

Université catholique de Louvain
, united within a common governing body.

History

1970: First state reform

In 1970 was a first state reform, which resulted in the establishment of three cultural communities:

Brussels for economic autonomy. On 18 February 1970 Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens
announced the end of "La Belgique de papa".

1980: Second state reform

The second state reform took place in 1980, when the cultural communities became

communities.[2] The communities assumed the authority of the cultural communities with regard to cultural matters and became responsible for the 'matters relating to the person', such as health and youth policy. From then on, these three Communities were known as the Flemish Community, the French Community and the German-speaking Community
.

Two regions were established as well in 1980: the

Brussels-Capital Region was not established until the third state reform.[2]

1988–1989: Third state reform

During the third state reform in 1988 and 1989, under Prime Minister

Brussels-Capital Region was established with its own regional institutions, as well as Dutch and French institutions for community matters. The Brussels-Capital Region remained limited to 19 municipalities. Other changes included expanding the competencies of the communities and the regions. One notable responsibility that was transferred to the Communities during the third state reform is education.[3]

1993: Fourth state reform

Diagram of the Belgian Province of Brabant, which was divided into Flemish Brabant (bright yellow), Walloon Brabant (bright red), and the Brussels-Capital Region (orange).

The fourth state reform, which took place in 1993 under Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, consolidated the previous state reforms and turned Belgium into a full-fledged federal state.[3] The first article of the Belgian Constitution was amended to read as follows, “Belgium is a Federal State which consists of communities and regions”. During the fourth state reform, the responsibilities of the Communities and the Regions were expanded again, their resources were increased and they were given more fiscal responsibilities.

Other major changes included the direct election of the parliaments of the Communities and the Regions, the splitting up of the

Federal Government
. The first direct elections for the parliaments of the communities and the regions took place on 21 May 1995.

2001: Fifth state reform

Two accords came into effect following two special laws enacted on 13 July 2001.[4] However, the fourth state reform was not the end of the process of federalization. In 2001, a fifth state reform took place, under Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (Verhofstadt I Government), with the Lambermont and the Lombard accords.

Lambermont Accord

During the fifth state reform, more powers were transferred to the Communities and the Regions, with regard to agriculture, fisheries, foreign trade, development cooperation, auditing of electoral expenses and the supplementary financing of the political parties.

2006 municipal elections
.

Lombard Accord

The functioning of the Brussels institutions was also amended during the fifth state reform,[4] which resulted among other things in a guaranteed representation of the Flemish inhabitants of Brussels in the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region.

2011: Sixth state reform

  • The electoral and judicial arrondissement of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde was divided.
  • Competences worth €17 billion will be transferred from the federal level to the
    communities and regions
    . Regions will manage economic and employment matters, and communities will be responsible for family policy.
  • The
    Belgian Senate
    will no longer be directly elected but instead become an assembly of regional parliaments, with fewer members.

References

  1. ^ "Belgium is a federal State composed of Communities and Regions." – Article 1 of the Belgian Constitution
  2. ^ a b c d The first and second State reforms, belgium.be
  3. ^ a b The third and fourth State reforms, belgium.be
  4. ^ a b c The Fifth State Reform, belgium.be