THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT

The ‘Day After’

Monday May 26th

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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

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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 ?

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Member states of the Belgian Federal State: - Regions : 3

- Communities : 3

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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 Dutch-

speaking inhabitants of the bi-lingual Region of Brussel

One Parliament, one Government and one administration for the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community

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• 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

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 !

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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

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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

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Corporate & Institutional OrganisationIn 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’

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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 parliament16

Member states of the Belgian Federal State: - Regions : 3

- Communities : 3

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THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT

‘THE WEEKS AHEAD’

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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

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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..

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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 !!

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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 Brussels-Capita 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

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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 ?

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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

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