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Monarchy of BelgiumFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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consensus.
King of the Belgians
MONARCHY
Coat of arms of Belgium
Incumbent:
Philippe
since 21 July 2013
Style: His Majesty
Heir apparent: Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant
First monarch: Leopold I
Formation: 21 July 1831
Website: The Belgian monarchy
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Belgium
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Monarchy in Belgium isconstitutionalandpopularin nature. The hereditarymonarch, at
presentPhilippe, is thehead of stateand is officially called King of the Belgians(Dutch:Koning der
Belgen,French:Roi des Belges,German:Knig der Belgier).
Contents
[hide]
1 Origins
2 A hereditary and constitutional system
o 2.1 A constitutional monarchy from the beginning
2.1.1 Leopold I, Leopold II, Albert I
2.1.2 Leopold III, Baudouin I
o 2.2 Constitutional, political, and historical consequences 3 List of Kings of the Belgians
4 Title
5 Constitutional role
6 Inviolability
7 Royal Household
8 Members of the Belgian Royal Family
o 8.1 Others descendants of Leopold III
9 Deceased members
10 Royal consorts
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
Origins[edit]
WhenBelgiumbecame independent in 1830 theNational Congresschose aconstitutional
monarchyas theform of government. The Congress voted on the question on 22 November 1830,
supporting monarchy by 174 votes to 13. In February 1831, the Congress nominatedLouis, Duke of
Nemours, the son of theFrenchkingLouis-Philippe, but international considerations deterred Louis-
Philippe from accepting the honour for his son.
Following this refusal, the National Congress appointedErasme-Louis, Baron Surlet de Chokierto be
theRegentof Belgium on 25 February 1831, thus becoming the first head of state of independent
Belgium.Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gothawas designated as King of the Belgians by the National
Congress[1]
and swore allegiance to the Belgian constitution in front of Saint Jacobs Church
atCoudenbergPalace inBrusselson 21 July. This day has since become anational holidayfor
Belgium and its citizens.
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ancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Philippe_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Philippe_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Philippe_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasme_Louis_Surlet_de_Chokierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasme_Louis_Surlet_de_Chokierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasme_Louis_Surlet_de_Chokierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coudenberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coudenberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coudenberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brusselshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coudenberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasme_Louis_Surlet_de_Chokierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Philippe_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis,_Duke_of_Nemourshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis,_Duke_of_Nemourshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_of_governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Congress_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Royal_consortshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Deceased_membershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Others_descendants_of_Leopold_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Members_of_the_Belgian_Royal_Familyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Royal_Householdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Inviolabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Constitutional_rolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Titlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#List_of_Kings_of_the_Belgianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Constitutional.2C_political.2C_and_historical_consequenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Leopold_III.2C_Baudouin_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Leopold_I.2C_Leopold_II.2C_Albert_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#A_constitutional_monarchy_from_the_beginninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#A_hereditary_and_constitutional_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philippe,_Duke_of_Brabanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy7/27/2019 Monarchy of Belgium
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A hereditary and constitutional system[edit]
Theneutralityof this section isdisputed. Please do not remove
this message until thedispute is resolved.(April 2011)
As ahereditaryconstitutional monarchy system, the role and operation of Belgium's monarchy is
governed by theConstitution. The royal office of King is designated solely for a descendent of the first
King of the Belgians, Leopold I.
Since he is bound by the Constitution[2]
(above all other ideological and religious considerations,
political opinions and debates and economic interests) the King acts as an arbiter and guardian of
Belgium's unity and independence. Belgium's monarchs are inaugurated without the blessing of
theCatholic Churchin a purely civil swearing-in ceremony. These words (above all other ideological
and religious considerations, political opinions and debates and economic interests ) are not written in
the Belgian constitution: nevertheless, they conform with the spirit of this Constitution. There have
been occurrences, however, of Belgian monarchs not always respecting this spirit.[citation needed]
A constitutional monarchy from the beginning[edit]
The Kingdom of Belgium was never anabsolute monarchy. Nevertheless, in 1961, the historian
Ramon Arango, wrote that the Belgian monarchy is not truly constitutional.[3]
Leopold I, Leopold II, Albert I[edit]
Leopold I of Belgiumwas head of Foreign Affairs as anancien rgimemonarch, the foreign ministers
having the authority to do so only as ministers of the king.[4]
Leopold I quickly became one of the
most important shareholders of theSocit Gnrale de Belgique[5]
In many circumstances
Leopold's son,Leopold II of Belgium, publicly expressed opinion against that of the Government (on
15 August 1887, against Prime MinisterAuguste Marie Franois Beernaert), or some MPs (again
against Beernaert in 1905).[6]
For Yvon Gouet this behavior was not in compliance with the
parliamentary system.[7]
Also, at the start ofWorld War I,Albert I of Belgiumstated he was in
command of theBelgian armycontrary to hisPrime MinisterCharles de Broquevilleand, according
to Raymond Fusilier, also against the Belgian Constitution[8]
Luc Schepens wrote similar
opinions:"The two main casualties of World War I are the Constitution and the parliamentary regime.
The king had a role out of proportion with the spirit of the Constitution".[9]
For instance, on 17 May
1926, in a public letter, Albert stated he had faith in theHenri Jaspargovernment, before the
Parliament passed a vote of confidence in this government.[10]
Leopold III, Baudouin I[edit]
Louis Wodon (thechef de cabinetof Leopold III from 1934 to 1940), thought the King's oath to the
Constitution implied a royal position over and above the Constitution. He compared the King to a
father, the head of a family
[11]
According to Arango,Leopold III of Belgiumshared these views aboutthe Belgian monarchy. In 1991, towards the end of the reign ofBaudouin I, Senator Yves de
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ium#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Staffhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Staffhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Staffhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_III_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_III_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_III_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudouin_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudouin_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudouin_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudouin_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_III_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Staffhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Jasparhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Broquevillehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Ministerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Marie_Fran%C3%A7ois_Beernaerthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_II_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_G%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale_de_Belgiquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancien_R%C3%A9gimehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOVD#What_is_an_NPOV_dispute.3Fhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOV_disputehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_viewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Belgium?veaction=edit&vesection=27/27/2019 Monarchy of Belgium
5/5
Wasseige, a former member of theBelgian Constitutional Court, cited four points of democracy
which the Belgian Constitution lacks: 1. the King chooses the ministers, 2. the King is able to
influence the ministers when he speaks with them about bills, projects and nominations, 3. the King
promulgates bills, and, 4. the King must agree to any change of the Constitution[12]
Constitutional, political, and historicalconsequences[edit]
The Belgian monarchy was immediately a constitutional monarchy, patterned after that of theUnited
Kingdom.[13][14]
"It should be observed that all monarchies have suffered periods of change as a result
of which the power of the sovereign was reduced, but for the most part those periods occurred before
the development of the system of constitutionnal monarchy and were steps leading to its
establishment.".[15]
The characteristic evidence of this is in Great Britain where there was an
evolution from the time when kings ruled through the agency of ministers to that time when ministersbegan to govern through the instrumentality of theCrown.
Unlike the British constitutional system, in Belgium the monarchy underwent a belated
evolution which came after[16]
the establishment of the constitutional monarchical
system[17]
because, in 1830-1831, an independent state, parliamentary system and monarchy were
established simultaneously. Hans Daalder, Professor of political science at theRijksuniversiteit
Leidenwrote: "Did such simultaneous developments not result in a possible failure to lay down the
limits of the royal prerogratives with some precision - which implied that the view of the King as the
Keeper of the Nation, with rights and duties of its own, retained legitimacy?"[18]
For Raymond Fusilier, the Belgian monarchy had to be placed - at least in the beginning - between
the regimes where the king rules and the regime when the king does not rule but only reigns. The
Belgian monarchy is closer to the principle the King does not rule[19]
But the Belgian kings were not
only at the head of the dignified part of the Constitution.[20]
The Belgian monarchy is not merely
symbolic, because it rules as far as the King agrees with his ministers .[21]
ForFrancis Delpre, to
reign does not only mean to preside over ceremonies but also to take a part in the running of the
State.[22]
The Belgian historianJean Stengerswrote that some foreigners believe the monarchy is
indispensable to national unity. The King is but a piece over the political scene (in French literally
translated: on the chessboard), but a piece which matters.[23]
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