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<text>
<title>
Belgium: Government
</title>
<article><hdr>The World Factbook 1993: Belgium
Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<l>Names:</l>
<l> conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium</l>
<l> conventional short form: Belgium</l>
<l> local long form: Royaume de Belgique</l>
<l> local short form: Belgique</l>
</list>
<p>Digraph: BE
</p>
<p>Type: constitutional monarchy
</p>
<p>Capital: Brussels
</p>
<p>Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French: provinces,
singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie);
Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen
</p>
<p>Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
</p>
<p>Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980;
the government is in the process of revising the Constitution
with the aim of federalizing the Belgian state
</p>
<p>Legal system: civil law system influenced by English
constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
</p>
<p>National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King
Leopold to the throne in 1831)
</p>
<p>Political parties and leaders: Flemish Social Christian (CVP),
Herman VAN ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social Christian (PSC) ,
Melchior WATHELET, president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank
VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS;
Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president;
Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone
Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie
(VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis VAN
GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel VAN DILLEN, chairman;
ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Werner van
STEEN; Live Differently (AGALEV; Flemish Green party), Leo COX;
Ecologist (ECOLO; Francophone Green party), NA; other minor
parties
</p>
<p>Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist
Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other
associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class
artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various
organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and
Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action
Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi
</p>
<p>Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
</p>
<p>Elections:
</p>
<p> Senate: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(184 total; of which 106 are directly elected) CVP 20, SP 14,
PVV (now VLD) 13, VU 5, AGALEV 5, VB 5, ROSSEN 1, PS 18, PRL 9,
PSC 9, ECOLO 6, FDF 1
</p>
<p> Chamber of Representatives: last held 24 November 1991 (next
to be held by November 1996); results - CVP 16.7%, PS 13.6%, SP
12.0%, PVV (now VLD) 11.9%, PRL 8.2%, PSC 7.8%, VB 6.6%, VU
5.9%, ECOLO 5.1%, AGALEV 4.9%, FDF 2.6%, ROSSEM 3.2%, FN 1.5%;
seats - (212 total) CVP 39, PS 35, SP 28, PVV (now VLD) 26, PRL
20, PSC 18, FB 12, VU 10, ECOLO 10, AGALEV 7, FDF 3, ROSSEM 3,
FN 1
</p>
<p>Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime
ministers, Cabinet
</p>
<p>Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
chamber or Senate (Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat) and a lower
chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Flemish - Kamer van
Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des Representants)
</p>
<p>Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van
Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation)
</p>
<p>Leaders:
</p>
<p> Chief of State: King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir
Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6
June 1934)
</p>
<p> Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6
March 1992)
</p>
<p>Member of: AG (observer), ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australian Group,
Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
</p>
<list>
<l>Diplomatic representation in US:</l>
<l> chief of mission: Ambassador Juan CASSIERS</l>
<l> chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008</l>
<l> telephone: (202) 333-6900</l>
<l> FAX: (202) 333-3079</l>
<l> consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New
York</l>
</list>
<list>
<l>US diplomatic representation:</l>
<l> chief of mission: Ambassador Bruce S. GELB</l>
<l> embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, Brussels</l>
<l> mailing address: B-1000 Brussels, PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE
09724</l>
<l> telephone: [32] (2) 513-3830</l>
<l> FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725</l>
</list>
<p>Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side),
yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
</p></body></article></text>