IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Belgium

Kingdom of Belgium

11,562,784	11
Population (as of Feb. 8, 2019)	Elections in our database
8,368,029	89.91%
Registered Voters (as of June 6, 2024)	Average Turnout

Name	Official Name	Type
Belgian Senate	Senaat / Senat	Upper House
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants	Lower House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: King PHILIPPE[1]
Head of Government: Prime Minister Charles MICHEL
Assembly: Belgium has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (Senaat / Senat) with 60 seats and the Chamber of Representatives (Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants) with 150 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The King is hereditary head of state.
Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch.
In the Senate (Senaat / Senat), 50 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms and 10 members are elected by the Senate itself.[2] In the Chamber of Representatives (Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants) 150 members are elected through a flexible-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms.[3]

[1] On 21 July 2013, King ALBERT II abdicated the throne. He is succeeded by his eldest son PHILIPPE.

[2]In accordance with the State Reform passed in 2012, 50 senators are indirectly elected through Community Parliaments (29 Dutch, 20 French and 1 German). In addition, 10 “co-opted senators” are elected by other senators. 6 are elected by the other Dutch senators and 4 by the other French senators. According to Article 72 of the constitution, the King's children are Senators by Right at the age of 18, provided they take the oath as a senator. They have voting rights in the Senate at the age of 21, although in practice, they never exercise that right. They are also not taken into account in determining the quorum of attendance. The new State Reform will abolish the role of Senator by Right.

[3] There are 11 multi-member constituencies. Electors are given a list of candidates from each party. They may either vote for this list, backing the party's order, or cast a preferential vote for a specific candidate. Preferential votes have the ability to move candidates up and down the list order. In addition to a regular candidate list, parties provide a list of alternate candidates. These alternate candidates take office if a regular candidate takes a position as a minister. Party-lists must provide an equal number of male and female candidates. In addition, the first two candidates presented on a list must be from different genders. Following the first two names, however, parties may order their candidates as they choose, without regard to gender. There is a 5 percent minimum threshold for each party to reach in each district in 8 of the 11 constituencies.

Elections

2024-06-09
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 7,315,450
Registered 8,368,029
Turnout 87.42

2019-05-26
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 7,128,633
Registered 8,167,709
Turnout 87.28

2014-05-25
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 7,157,498
Registered 8,001,278
Turnout 89.45

2010-06-13
Belgian Senate
Votes 6,929,855
Registered 7,767,552
Turnout 89.22

2010-06-13
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 6,929,478
Registered 7,767,552
Turnout 89.21

2007-06-10
Belgian Senate
Votes 7,032,384
Registered 7,720,796
Turnout 91.08

2007-06-10
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 7,032,077
Registered 7,720,796
Turnout 91.08

2003-05-18
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 6,936,801
Registered 7,570,637
Turnout 91.63

2003-05-18
Belgian Senate
Votes 6,934,678
Registered 7,570,580
Turnout 91.6

1999-06-13
Belgian Chamber of Representatives
Votes 6,652,005
Registered 7,343,466
Turnout 90.58

1999-06-13
Belgian Senate
Votes 6,646,028
Registered 7,343,466
Turnout 90.5

Election For	Date	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	2024-06-09	7,315,450	8,368,029	87.42
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	2019-05-26	7,128,633	8,167,709	87.28
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	2014-05-25	7,157,498	8,001,278	89.45
Belgian Senate	2010-06-13	6,929,855	7,767,552	89.22
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	2010-06-13	6,929,478	7,767,552	89.21
Belgian Senate	2007-06-10	7,032,384	7,720,796	91.08
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	2007-06-10	7,032,077	7,720,796	91.08
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	2003-05-18	6,936,801	7,570,637	91.63
Belgian Senate	2003-05-18	6,934,678	7,570,580	91.6
Belgian Chamber of Representatives	1999-06-13	6,652,005	7,343,466	90.58
Belgian Senate	1999-06-13	6,646,028	7,343,466	90.5

Voter Turnout

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