The Parliament of the Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (French language, French: ''Parlement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale'', Dutch language, Dutch: ''Parlement van het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest''), is the governing body of the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three Communities and regions of Belgium, regions of Belgium. It is also known as the Brussels Regional Parliament (French language, French: ''Parlement Bruxellois'', Dutch language, Dutch: ''Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Parlement'').

Elections

Elections of 75 Brussels regional Chamber of Deputies, deputies, 89 since 2004, take place every five years. Here is the list of past regional elections: * June 18, 1989 (first elections) * May 21, 1995, coincided with the federal legislative elections; * June 13, 1999, coincided with the European Parliament elections; * June 13, 2004, coincided with the European Parliament elections; * June 7, 2009, coincided with the European Parliament elections; * May 25, 2014 coincided with the European Parliament elections; * 2019 Belgian regional elections#Brussels Parliament, May 26, 2019, coincided with the European Parliament elections.

Current composition

The composition of the Brussels Parliament is as follows:

Previous compositions

2004–2009 2009–2014 Zetelverdeling-BP-2009

2014–2019 2019–present Hôtel de Limminghe (DSC01797)

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 Minister (government), ministers and three regional Secretary of State, secretaries of state, who together form the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region#Cabinet, 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 language, French-speaking group and 17 members belong to the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking group. The members of the French-speaking group also make up the ''Parlement francophone bruxellois'' (in English language, 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 Communities and regions of Belgium, 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 6 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 Belgian Senate, Senate as "community senators" for the French Community. At the moment, this is the case for François Roelants du Vivier (Reformist Movement, MR), (Socialist Party (francophone Belgium), PS) and Sfia Bouarfa (Socialist Party (francophone Belgium), 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 Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Chamber of Representatives and of one of the Regional Parliaments at the same time.

References

Notes

External links

Brussels-Capital Region
''Centre d'Informatique pour la Région Bruxelloise'' (Brussels Regional Informatics Center).
Brussels Parliament
official webpage
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