Democracy in Belgium

175 years of democracy

To celebrate 175 years of democracy the Belgian post issued a miniature sheet with five stamps on 20 February 2006.
The Provisional Government on 4 October 1830 proclaimed Belgium's independence. Later, the National Congress authored very liberal constitution establishing fundamental liberties, such as freedom of speech, the press and education and the separation of powers.

King Leopold

Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha was chosen as king of the Belgians, swearing an oath to the constitution on 21 July 1831. To prevent any form of absolutism, the constitution clearly limited the powers of the King. In swearing his oath to the Constitution in front of a joint session of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate, the new sovereign acknowledged that king Leopold did not hold these powers personally, but that they were derived from the nation.

Representative democracy

The constitution granted executive power to an inviolable hereditary king, who was to appoint his ministers from the majority grouping in the Chamber and the Senate, since Belgium is a representative democracy.

Constitution

Article 36 of the Constitution now has this to say about the legislative branch: 'The federal legislative power is exerted collectively by the King, the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate.' The monarchy has lost some of its powers to the European Union, and since the various state reforms, to the regions and the communities. In accordance with the traditional principle of the separation of powers, the judiciary power belongs to the Courts and the tribunals.

Stamp in detail

Issue: Belgium, 20 February 2006
Stamp size: 44.6 x 32.75 mm and 30.8 x 50 mm
Sheet size: 200 x 82.98 mm
Design: Eddie van Hoef
Perforation: 11.5
Printing: rotogravure

More information

Queen Astrid