Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Belgium’s Senate ratified a government-sponsored bill, clearing the way for publication and the dissolution of the Chambers before the June 9 elections. Almost unanimously approved, the bill includes Article 195, enabling constitutional amendments.
Belgium‘s Senate ratified a final government-sponsored bill, paving the path for its publication in the Official Gazette, followed by the dissolution of the Chambers ahead of elections on 9 June. The Senate’s approval followed the House of Representatives. The upper house passed the list of suggestions submitted by the government without holding any comprehensive debate on additions each group may have wanted to make.
The senators voted almost unanimously to endorse the bill. Only the Workers Party of Belgium (PTB) and Vlaams Belang either refrained or voted against a few items on the list. However, only 46 of the 53 senators attending voted in favour of Article 195 – an infamous sticking point – which covers the process of amending the Constitution. Groen Senator Celia Groothedde voted against it while five senators from the PTB and Les Engagés refrained.
What Are the Goals of Belgium’s New Amendments?
Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden examined the government’s proposal, section by section, before the Senate vote. She supported the content as ‘balanced,’ with three main categories: Article 195; articles authorising the modification of certain basic rights; and other “targeted items,” including those directly affecting the Senate’s remit and operation.
Broadly speaking, the amendments strive to make the country ‘future-proof’ by its 200th anniversary, according to Minister Verlinden. Her aim, she stated, is to help Belgium to function optimally with the assistance of essential reforms.
What Are the Key Points of Belgium’s Latest Constitutional Changes?
The idea is to have a fresh state structure in 2024, with a more uniform and efficient distribution of competencies that respects the principles of subsidiarity and interpersonal solidarity. This revision should improve the federated entities’ autonomy and the federal level’s power.
Adding Article 195 allows state reform, by giving senators the ability to amend articles of the
Constitution that is not detailed for revision. Minister Verlinden clarified that revising this article would make it possible to change any article of the Constitution in a single phase after the elections. Groen’s Celia Groothedde condemned this “loophole,” which, she said, potentially enables Article 195 and the procedure it delineates to be temporarily bypassed. Liberal Rik Daems, although voting in favour, consented with Senator Groothedde’s interpretation.?
Are the Amendments also Aimed at Creating Gender Balance?
The amendments seek to improve and widen the Constitution’s basic rights, bringing them in line with Belgium’s international obligations, including those of the European Convention on Human Rights, according to its proponents. They are also aimed at building a more balanced male-female representation in governments and to stop post-election negotiations from dragging on indefinitely.
Furthermore, the changes are anticipated to result in certain press offences being effectively prosecuted. André Antoine, conveying the Engagés party, said this was a tool for combating cyberbullying.
