THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT
The ‘Day After’
Monday May 26th
1
2
3
4
Content
The Institute ‘Flemish Parliament’ : Corporate &
Institutional Organisation
The Flemish Parliament : the ‘Day After’
The Flemish Parliament : the ‘Weeks Ahead’
Formal starting up of the new elected Flemish
Parliament
5
Corporate & Institutional Organisation
 Flemish Parliament is one of the six parliaments in the
federal state of Belgium - since 1993
Understanding the structure of the Belgian federal state
Main characteristic : contrary to other federal states,
two kind of member-states : regions and
communities -- explains why this model is so
complicated
Difference between Regions and Communuties ?
6
Member states of the Belgian Federal State:
- Regions : 3
- Communities : 3
7
Corporate and Institutional Organisation
Flemish Parliament :
Parliament of the Flemish Region in Belgium
 Territory of the five Flemish provinces
Parliament of the Flemish Community in Belgium
 Territory of the five Flemish provinces and the Dutchspeaking inhabitants of the bi-lingual Region of Brussel
One Parliament, one Government and one administration
for the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community
8
• De Vlaamse Volksvertegenwoordiger stelt een
regelgevende tekst op
• Nauwelijks of geen vormvoorschriften
• Nauwelijks of geen procedurevoorschriften
• Parlementslid kan beroep doen op legistiek advies
• Niet verplicht het uitgebrachte advies te volgen
9
Corporate & Institutional Organisation
GOVERNMENT-MAKING POWER
GOVERNMENT-SUPERVISING POWER
‘Question time’ in plenary session on wednesday
 Interpellations and oral questions in plenary sessions
and committee meetings
Written questions : yearly average of 7.500 during
period 2009-2014 !
10
Corporate & Institutional Organisation
 LAW-MAKING POWER : VOTING FLEMISH LAWS
(decrees)
Parliament of the Flemish Region :
 Urban planning, public works and transport ,,,
Parliament of the Flemish Community :
 Use of languages, culture, media, education ,,,
Brussels MP’s : voting-right in plenary session only on
decrees concerning community matters !!
 VOTING THE BUDGET
28 billion € in 2014
11
IMPACT OF THE SIXTH STATE-REFORM OF 2014 FOR THE
NEW FLEMISH PARLIAMENT
More competencies : child benefits, labour market policies, socio
economic permits, price-control, speed control, road safety,
health care and care for the elder …
 Higher budget : + 11 billion €
Fiscal autonomy
Corporate & Institutional Organisation
Particularity of the Belgian Federal System :
Principle ‘In foro interno, in foro externo’ :
political level that has competence for that area – f.i.
education is at Flanders’ level – also excercises this
competence at international level
 Flanders concludes international treaties concerning its
competencies, f.e. education, agriculture
 International treaties are debated and voted in the
Flemish Parliament
 Unique situation for federal states
13
Corporate & Institutional Organisation
In foro interno, in foro externo’ in the EU-decision
making process : Flemish Parliament acts within its
competencies as a national parliament in the EU-decision
making process
Standing committees organise debriefings of the
Council meetings when participation of Flemish
ministers
Standing committees organise meetings and hearings
about proposals that are important for Flanders
Flemish Parliament acts as a national parliament in
the subsidiarity procedure
Standing committees and m-p’s participate in
international Joint Parliamentary Meetings
Role of the European Office of the Flemish Parliament
14
THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT
‘THE DAY AFTER’
15
Election of the Flemish Parliament
124 directly elected members :
 118 from the territory of the Flanders Region : elected
in the five constituencies/provinces of Flanders
 6 from the bilingual territory of the Brussels –Capital
Region
 Proportional representation with 5% election threshold at the
level of the constituency
 Cannot be dissolved : ‘Legislature parliament’ for five years
 Results of the Flemish elections of May 25th :
 6 Groups -- Members of the same Party
 Gender-analysis : % of women in parliament
 % of new members of parliament
16
Member states of the Belgian Federal State:
- Regions : 3
- Communities : 3
17
18
19
20
THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT
‘THE WEEKS AHEAD’
21
The ‘Weeks Ahead’
Preparation of the installation of the new Flemish
Parliment
Verification of the results of the elections
Verification of credentials of the new elected members
of Flemish Parliament
Task of the administration of the Flemish Parliament
22
The ‘Weeks Ahead’
 June 17th : Installation of the newly elected Flemish
Parliament
 Date : according to the special laws on state-reform
 Session is opened by the ‘temporary speaker’ : newly
chosen member that has been member of the
Flemish Parliament for the longest time
 Official verification of the results of the elections and
the credentials as prepared by the administration
 Speaker takes oath of the new elected m-p’s
 Formal formation of the groups
 Recognised’ Groups : minimum of 5 members –receive
resources to establish a secretariat : budget, staff..
23
The weeks Ahead
Nomination of
the Speaker ?
the Bureau (the Board of the House - proportional) ?
Within 14 days after the installation meeting
Sanction : parliament cannot work !!
24
The weeks Ahead
Nomination of the new Flemish Government ??
 Initiative taken by the largest group
Majority in Parliament
Flemish Government : 9 members – max. 11 –
impact 6th State Reform ?
One member must live in the bilingual BrusselsCapita Area
Speaker takes the oath of the Flemish ministers and
the minister-president
Minister-president : oath also taken by the King
Sanction : parliament without a government can
hardly work
25
The ‘Weeks Ahead’
June 18th - ????
Nomination of
Speaker (and Bureau)
Flemish Government
are interconnected : political deal
 Appointment of the Standing committees of the Flemish
Parliament
2009 – 2014 : 12 committees ; 15 members
2014 – 2019 : impact of the 6th State Reform ?
26
27
The ‘Weeks Ahead’
September 22th : Opening of the parliamentary session
2014-2015 :
Flemish Parliament takes up its ‘normal’ functions :
Voting decrees
Budget approval
Controlling the Flemish Government
28