Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region

History

The Council of the Brussels-Capital Region (, ) was established with the creation of the region in 1989, on the occasion of the third state reform. Unlike its Flemish and Walloon regional counterparts, whose regional parliaments were initially composed of those members of the Belgian Federal Parliament elected in their respective regions, the Brussels Council was immediately elected by direct universal suffrage. Initially, it had 75 deputies, divided between 64 French-speaking and 11 Dutch-speaking members. A reform in 2001, applicable from 2004, increased this number to 89, divided between 72 French-speakers and 17 Dutch-speakers.

On 25 February 2005, a revision of the Belgian Constitution to the special law relating to regional and community institutions, which came into force on 11 March 2006, followed by an amendment on 11 April 2006, transformed the Council into the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region (, ).

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 ministers and three regional secretaries of state, who together form the cabinet of the Brussels-Capital Region.

The Brussels Parliament can also force the cabinet as a whole or one or more of its members to resign by passing a motion of no confidence. However, because the Parliament cannot be dissolved prior to the end of its five-year term, such a motion is only admissible if it is a constructive motion, in other words, the Parliament must decide upon a successor to the cabinet or to one or more of its members.

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 (English: Francophone 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, and until 2004 this was also the case for six Dutch-speaking members, who were at the same time members of the Flemish Parliament. Nowadays, people voting for a Flemish party have to vote separately for six directly-elected members of the Flemish Parliament.

Due to the multiple capacities of single members, there are members of the Brussels Parliament who are simultaneously members of the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium and of the Senate as "community senators" for the French Community. At the moment, this is the case for François Roelants du Vivier (MR), (PS) and Sfia Bouarfa (PS). However, there are certain restrictions in place in order to prevent one person from combining too many mandates. For instance, it is not possible to be a member of the Chamber of Representatives and of one of the Regional Parliaments at the same time.

Elections

Elections of 75 Brussels regional deputies, 89 since 2004, take place every five years. Here is the list of past regional elections:

• 18 June 1989 (first elections)
• 21 May 1995, coincided with the federal legislative elections;
• 13 June 1999, coincided with the European Parliament election;
• 13 June 2004, coincided with the European Parliament election;
• 7 June 2009, coincided with the European Parliament election;
• 25 May 2014 coincided with the European Parliament election;
• 26 May 2019, coincided with the European Parliament election;
• 9 June 2024, coincided with the European Parliament election

Current composition

Main article: List of members of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, 2024–2029

The composition of the Brussels Parliament is as follows:

Previous compositions

2004–2009

2009–2014

2014–2019

2019–2024

2024–present

References

References

1. (January 2009). "The Belgian Constitution (English version)". Belgian House of Representatives.
2. (2009). "Brussels-Capital Region: Creation". Centre d'Informatique pour la Région Bruxelloise (Brussels Regional Informatics Center).
3. (13 July 2001). "Loi spéciale portant transfert de diverses compétences aux régions et communautés.".
4. (11 March 2005). "Révision de la Constitution - Modification de la terminologie de la Constitution (Application de l'article 198 de la Constitution)".
5. (27 March 2006). "Loi spéciale adaptant diverses dispositions à la nouvelle dénomination du Parlement wallon, du Parlement de la Communauté française, du Parlement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, du Parlement flamand et du Parlement de la Communauté germanophone".