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Belgian Federal Governments ‧ Belgische Federale Regeringen ‧ Gouvernements Fédérals Belges ‧ Belgische Föderalregierung
The Federal Government of Belgium (Dutch: Federale regering, French: Gouvernement fédéral, German: Föderalregierung) exercises executive power in the Kingdom of Belgium. It consists of ministers and secretary of state ("junior", or deputy-ministers who do not sit in the Council of Ministers) drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. The federal government is led by the prime minister of Belgium, and ministers lead ministries of the government. Ministers together form the Council of Ministers, which is the supreme executive organ of the government (equivalent to a cabinet).
Formally, executive power is vested in the king, who formally appoints the ministers. However, under the Constitution of Belgium, the king is not politically responsible for exercising his powers, but must exercise it through the ministers. The king's acts are not valid unless countersigned by a minister, and the countersigning minister assumes political responsibility for the act. Thus, in practice, the ministers do the actual day-to-day work of governing.
Chart ‧ Legenda ‧ Légende ‧ Legende
⏹️ Agrarianism (BBB)
🟧 Catholic (Catholic Party - CVP - PSC - CDH - CD&V - CSP - Les Engagés - ProDG)
🟩 Ecologistic (Agalev - Ecolo - Groen!)
🟦 Liberal (Liberal Party - LP - PL - PVV - PLP - PRL - PFF - PVV - MR - VLD - Open VLD - Spirit - Volt)
🟨 Flemish Nationalistic (VU - N-VA)
🟫 Populistic (Communist Party - Vlaams Blok - FDF - PVDA - PTB - Vlaams Belang - Chez Nous)
🟥 Socialistic (BWP/POB - BWP - POB - BSP - PSB - SP - PS - SP.A - Vivant - Vooruit)
🔲 Unionistic (B.U.B. - Volt)
🟪 Waloon Nationalistic (FDF - Défi - UF)
Source: Wikipedia (Dutch), ( https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_Belgische_politieke_partijen ), 28‧jul‧2024
► (-) Gouvernement Provisional • (24-09-1830 ‧ 23-03-1831)
It came about on September 24 during the bloody September days at the initiative of the Réunion Central club. The Commission administrative, as it was initially called, declared that it would take over the vacant authority in Brussels. The proclamation of the full Provisional Government took place on September 26.
The body stimulated the uprising in the other cities and towns. A Central Department (Central Committee) was established within the Provisional Administration on September 28. The next day, the Provisional Government decreed that it took over power from the king and on October 4 it proclaimed the independence of the provinces of Belgium, which had been forcibly separated. In addition to the Central Committee, there were also committees for war, internal affairs, finance, justice, public security and diplomacy.”
Secretaries
- de Coppin José
- Van der Linden Joseph
Chairman of the Central Comittee
- Jolly André-Edouard
Members of the Central Comittee
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► (1) Goblet • (26-02-1831 ‧ 23-03-1831)
The Goblet government (26 February 1831 – 23 March 1831) was the first government of Belgium. The government was a unionist government of Liberals (53 seats) and Catholics (49 seats). It was formed after the regent Erasme-Louis Surlet de Chokier asked the Catholic president of the National Congress Etienne de Gerlache to form a government.
The Catholics were critical of this government because outside of Gerlache, only liberal ministers were present. They also disagreed with the fact that he combined his mandate as President of the Council of Ministers with the presidency of the National Congress, which caused conflict. Due to these conflicts, de Gerlache offered his resignation as chairman of the council of ministers on March 7, 1831.
Initially the regent tried to convince him to stay on, but de Gerlache refused. On March 18, 1831, Surlet de Chokier finally accepted his resignation. For the remainder of the government's term, Minister of War Albert Goblet d'Alviella took over the chairmanship of the Council of Ministers. The government was succeeded by the De Sauvage government.
Prime Minister
- 🟧 de Gerlache Etienne ‧ (Quitted 10-03-1831)
Ministers
Minister of War
- 🟦 Goblet d'Alviella Albert
Minister of Internal Affairs
- 🟦 Tielemans Jean-François
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Finance
Minister of Justice
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► (2) De Sauvage • (23-03-1831 ‧ 24-07-1831)
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Prime Minister
- 🟦 Lebeau Joseph
Ministers
Minister of Internal Affairs
- 🟦 de Sauvage Etienne
Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 🟦 Lebeau Joseph ‧ (Quitted 10-07-1831)
- 🟦 de Sauvage Etienne
Minister of Finance
- 🟦 de Brouckère Charles ‧ (Quitted 30-05-1831)
- 🟦 Duvivier Auguste
Minister of War
- 🟦 d'Hane van Steenhuyse Constant ‧ (Quitted 18-05-1831)
- 🟦 de Brouckère Charles ‧ (Quitted 25-05-1831)
- 🟦 de Failly Amédée ‧
Minister of Justice
- 🟦 Barthélémy Antoine
Extra Members
Minister without defined function
- 🟦 Devaux Paul
Inner Cabinet
- 🟦 de Sauvage Etienne
-
► (3) De Mûelenaere • (26-07-1831 ‧ 20-10-1832)
After the dismissal of Joseph Lebeau, the Catholic Felix de Mûelenaere was commissioned by the newly installed King Leopold I to form a government on July 24, 1831. He completed this assignment on July 26, 1831.
In August 1831, this government was confronted with the Ten Days Campaign, in which the Netherlands invaded Belgium. However, the government showed little decisiveness and estimated the Belgian Army to be stronger than it actually was. Ultimately, the French had to come to Belgium's aid. Minister of War Amédée de Failly was accused of incompetence and carelessness and was forced to resign.
These difficulties forced new negotiations with the major powers. In October 1831 an agreement was reached, the Treaty of the XXIV Articles, under which Belgium had to cede territory to the Netherlands. Despite strong opposition, Parliament approved the treaty and reluctantly signed the treaty on November 15, 1831. After disagreements with the great powers over the treaty, de Muelenaere finally resigned as chairman of the Council of Ministers on September 17, 1832.
Measures
- Construction of railway line from Antwerp to Wezet.
- Important loan concluded with London banker Nathan Rotschild that saved the newly established Belgian state from an untimely demise.
- First law on judicial organization.
- Public Security and the prison system are assigned to the Minister of Justice.
- Establishment of the Order of Leopold.
Prime Minister
- 🟧 De Mûelenaere Felix ‧ (Quitted 17-09-1832)
- 🟦 Goblet d'Alviella Albert ‧ (ad interim 17-09-1832 * 20-10-1832)
Ministers
Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 🟧 De Mûelenaere Felix ‧ (Quitted 17-09-1832)
- 🟦 Goblet d'Alviella Albert ‧ (ad interim 17-09-1832 * 20-10-1832)
Minister of Justice
- 🟧 Raikem Jean
Minister of Internal Affairs
- 🟦 de Sauvage Etienne ‧ (Quitted 03-08-1831)
- 🟦 de Brouckère Charles ‧ (Quitted 16-08-1831)
- 🔲 Teichmann Théodore ‧ (Quitted 12-11-1831)
- 🟧 Fallon Isidore ‧ (Quitted 21-11-1831)
- 🟧 de Theux de Meylandt Barthélemy
Minister of Finance
Minister of War
- 🔲 de Failly Amédée Jean ‧ (Quitted 16-08-1831)
- 🟦 de Brouckère Charles ‧ (Quitted 15-03-1832)
- 🟧 de Mérode Félix, Comte ‧ (ad interim 15-03-1832 * 20-05-1832)
- 🔲 Evain Louis Auguste
Inner Cabinet
- 🟧 De Mûelenaere Felix ‧ (Quitted 17-09-1832)
- 🟦 Lebeau Joseph
- 🟦 Goblet d'Alviella Albert ‧ (ad interim 17-09-1832 * 20-10-1832)
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► (4) Goblet • (20-10-1832 ‧ 04-08-1834)
After the government reached an agreement with the Netherlands, it led to fierce opposition in parliament. Bills on railways and public works also led to intense debates in parliament. After the government came into conflict with Minister of War Louis Evain, King Leopold I decided to ask the Catholics Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt and Felix de Mûelenaere to deal with a government reshuffle. After ministers Charles Rogier and Joseph Lebeau found out about this, the Goblet d'Alviella government resigned on August 1, 1834.
Prime Minister
- 🟦 Goblet d'Alviella Albert ‧
Ministers
Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 🟦 Goblet d'Alviella Albert ‧ (Quitted 27-12-1833)
- 🟧 de Mérode Félix, Comte ‧ (ad interim 27-12-1833 * 04-08-1834)
Minister of Justice
- 🟦 Lebeau Joseph
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Navy
- 🟧 de Mérode Félix, Comte ‧ (ad interim 27-12-1833 * 04-08-1834)
Minister of War
- 🔲 Evain Louis Auguste
Minister of Finance
- 🟦 Duvivier Auguste ‧ (ad interim 25-10-1832 * 31-03-1834)
- 🟦 Duvivier Auguste ‧
-
► (5) de Theux I • (04-08-1834 ‧ 18-04-1840)
This government is faced with the signing of the Treaty of the XXIV Articles by William I, leading to the recognition of Belgium by the Netherlands which thus abandons any desire to re-annex the Belgian territory, but leading to the loss for Belgium of part of Luxembourg (current Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) and part of Limburg (current Dutch province of Limburg).
Measures
- Act of 27 September 1835 on higher education;
- Act of 29 December 1835 on the Post Office;
- Municipal Act of March 30, 1836;
- Province Act of April 20, 1836;
- Act of 15 May 1838 regarding the organization of the jury;
- Law of May 24, 1838 regarding the organization of the army;
- Expansion of railway network;
- Foundation of the Royal Library of Belgium.
Prime Minister
Ministers
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 🟧 De Mûelenaere Felix ‧ (Quitted 13-12-1836)
- 🟧 de Theux de Meylandt Barthélemy, comte ‧ (ad interim 13-12-1836 * 13-01-1837)
- 🟧 De Mûelenaere Felix
Minister of Justice
- 🟦 Ernst Antoine Nicolas ‧ (Quitted 04-02-1839)
- 🟦 Nothomb Jean-Baptiste ‧ (Quitted 08-06-1839)
- 🟧 Raikem Jean-Joseph
Minister of Finance
- 🟦 d'Huart Edouard ‧ (Quitted 04-02-1839)
- 🟧 de Mérode Félix, Comte ‧ (ad interim 04-02-1839 * 18-02-1839)
- 🟧 Desmaisières Léandre
Minister of War
- 🔲 Evain Louis Auguste ‧ (Quitted 19-08-1836)
- 🔲 Willmar Jean-Pierre
Minister of Public Works
- 🟦 Nothomb Jean-Baptiste ‧ (13-01-1837 * 18-04-1840)
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► (50) Spaak I • (15-05-1938 ‧ 21-02-1939)
The Spaak I Government is a Belgian government composed of socialists, Catholics and liberals. He governed from May 15, 1938 to February 21, 1939.
Following the fall of the Janson government over disputes over a tax plan targeting the wealthiest, the socialist Paul-Henri Spaak was tasked with forming a new government. This forms a government not by negotiating with the parties but by directly seeking out candidates for a ministerial post; there is therefore no clear government agreement.
Prime Minister
Ministers
Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 🟥 Spaak Paul-Henri ‧ (Quitted 21-01-1939)
Minister of Transport, Postal Services, Telegraphy and Telephony and National Institute for Radio Broadcasting
- 🟧 Marck Hendrik
Minister for Public Education
- 🟦 Dierckx Octave
Minister of Justice
- 🟧 Pholien Joseph ‧ (Quitted 21-01-1939)
- 🟧 van Dievoet J. Emile, baron
Minister of Internal Affairs
- 🟥 Merlot Joseph
Minister for Public Health
- 🟥 Merlot Joseph
Minister of Finance
- 🟦 Gérard Max-Léo ‧ (Quitted 06-12-1938)
- 🟧 Janssen Albert Edouard
Minister of Defence
- 🟦 Denis Henri