Crown Council of Belgium

The Privy Council ( Dutch: Kroonraad, French: Conseil de la Couronne ) is in Belgium a Council, which is composed of the king, the ministers of the federal government and the ministers of state. It has a purely consultative role for the king and the government, and meets only on special crises. Since 1960, he has not been convened.

History

Neither the Privy Council nor the title of Minister of State have a legal basis, but have emerged from the tradition. Its origin is the Privy Council in similar institution in France during the Ancien Régime. There it was common that the French king concerted against certain decisions with his advisors.

The Belgian royal council was convened since the state was founded in 1830 to only five occasions. It involves five extraordinary crisis situations:

Today's meaning

Since 1960, the Privy Council was not convened. He represents in the eyes of some politicians is an archaic and undemocratic institution, so some have suggested its abolition. It is noteworthy that King Albert II during the political crisis in 2007 due to the difficulty to form a government, not summoned the Privy Council, but several experienced Minister of State (Jean -Luc Dehaene, Wilfried Martens, Philippe Moureaux, Willy Claes, Gérard Deprez, Jos Geysels Philippe Busquin Charles -Ferdinand Nothomb, José Daras, Raymond Long Dries, François -Xavier de Donnea, Herman de Croo, Louis Michel, Herman Van Rompuy, Armand de Decker, Guy Verhofstadt ) consulted one by one, to receive their opinions and suggestions.

Also the title of Minister of State is now regarded only as a mere title of honor and is awarded at regular intervals to politicians who the country proved to special services. The appointment is done by royal decree on the proposal of the government.

Current composition

Would the Privy Council meet today, he would be composed as follows:

King (Chair ): King Albert II

Minister: Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and the ministers of the government Di Rupo

Minister of State:

  • Annemie Neyts- Uyttebroeck
  • Magda Aelvoet
  • Louis Michel
  • José Daras
  • Gérard Deprez
  • Herman De Croo
  • Maystadt
  • Robert Urbain
  • François -Xavier de Donnea
  • Mark Eyskens
  • Jean -Luc Dehaene
  • Freddy Willockx
Albert II of Belgium Minister of State (Belgium) Leopold III of Belgium Jean-Luc Dehaene Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb Di Rupo Government Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck Miet Smet Frank Vandenbroucke (politician) Vlaams Belang
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