Editing Belgium (section)

==Politics and government==
{{Main|Politics of Belgium|Belgian federal government}}
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| image1      = King Philippe of Belgium (January 2025).jpg
| image2      = Visit of Bart De Wever, Belgian Prime Minister, to the European Commission (cropped).jpg
| caption1    = [[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]]<br />[[Monarchy of Belgium|King of the Belgians]]<br>{{small|since 21 July 2013}}
| caption2    = [[Bart De Wever]]<br />[[Prime Minister of Belgium]]<br>{{small|since 3 February 2025}}
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[[File:Chart constitution of Belgium EN.svg|thumb|Chart illustrating the federal government construction of Belgium]]
Belgium is a [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional]], [[popular monarchy]] and a [[federalism|federal]] [[parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]]. The [[bicameralism|bicameral]] [[Belgian Federal Parliament|federal parliament]] is composed of a [[Senate (Belgium)|Senate]] and a [[Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)|Chamber of Representatives]]. The former is made up of 50 senators appointed by the parliaments of the [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|communities and regions]] and 10 [[Senate (Belgium)#Co-opted senators|co-opted senators]]. Prior to 2014, most of the Senate's members were directly elected. The [[Chambers of parliament|Chamber]]'s 150 representatives are elected under a [[proportional voting]] system from 11 [[Arrondissements of Belgium|electoral districts]]. Belgium has [[compulsory voting]] and thus maintains one of the highest rates of [[voter turnout]] in the world.<ref name="Franklin">{{cite web|title=Voter Turnout Rates from a Comparative Perspective|year=2002|last1=López Pintor|first1=Rafael|last2=Gratschew|first2=Maria|publisher=[[International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance|IDEA]]|url=http://www.idea.int/publications/vt/upload/Voter%20turnout.pdf|access-date=22 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121050252/http://www.idea.int/publications/vt/upload/Voter%20turnout.pdf|archive-date=21 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Monarchy of Belgium|King]] (currently [[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]]) is the [[head of state]], though with limited [[Royal prerogative|prerogatives]]. He appoints ministers, including a Prime Minister, that have the confidence of the [[Chamber of Representatives of Belgium|Chamber of Representatives]] to form the [[federal government]]. The Council of Ministers is composed of no more than fifteen members. With the possible exception of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers is composed of an equal number of Dutch-speaking members and French-speaking members.<ref name="constitution1">{{cite web|title=The Belgian Constitution – Article 99|publisher=Belgian House of Representatives|date=January 2009|url=http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetEN.pdf|access-date=26 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706134014/http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetEN.pdf|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The judicial system is based on [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and originates from the [[Napoleonic code]]. The [[Court of Cassation (Belgium)|Court of Cassation]] is the court of last resort, with the [[Court of appeal (Belgium)|courts of appeal]] one level below.<ref name="NJcz8">{{cite web|title=Belgium 1831 (rev. 2012)|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Belgium_2012?lang=en|website=Constitute|access-date=30 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223145044/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Belgium_2012?lang=en|archive-date=23 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Political culture===
Belgium's political institutions are complex; [[Pillarisation|most political power rests on representation of the main cultural communities]].<ref name="d9qyv">{{cite web|title=Belgium, a federal state|publisher=Belgium.be|url=http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federale_staat/|access-date=26 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112080611/http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federale_staat/|archive-date=12 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since about 1970, the significant national [[Political parties in Belgium|Belgian political parties]] have split into distinct components that mainly represent the political and linguistic interests of these communities.<ref name="USStateDpt">{{cite web|title=Background Note: Belgium|publisher=U.S. Department of States|date=29 April 2010|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm|access-date=26 November 2010|archive-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121042120/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
The major parties in each community, though close to the political center, belong to three main groups: [[Christian democracy|Christian Democrats]], [[Liberalism in Belgium|Liberals]], and [[Social democracy|Social Democrats]].<ref name="fYr7M">{{cite web|title=Belgium – Political parties|work=European Election Database|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/belgium/parties.html|publisher=Norwegian Social Science Data Services|year=2010|access-date=10 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427100052/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/belgium/parties.html|archive-date=27 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
Further notable parties came into being well after the middle of last century, mainly to represent [[List of political parties in Belgium#Linguistic parties|linguistic]], nationalist, or environmental interests, and recently smaller ones of some specific liberal nature.<ref name="USStateDpt" />

[[File:Palais de la Nation (DSC01812).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Belgian Federal Parliament]] in [[Brussels]], one of [[List of governments in Belgium|six different governments]] of the country]]

A string of Christian Democrat coalition governments from 1958 [[Belgian federal election, 1999|was broken in 1999]] after the first [[dioxine affair|dioxin crisis]], a major [[Food contaminant|food contamination]] scandal.<ref name="bKdfB">{{cite web|title=Dioxin contamination scandal hits Belgium: Effects spread through European Union and beyond|work=World Socialist Web Site (WSWS)|publisher=International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)|author=Tyler, Richard <!--Do ''not'' link to fictional character or The Daily Telegraph's Enterprise Editor, this R.T.=WSWS correspondent-->|date=8 June 1999|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/06/belg-j08.html|access-date=16 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801062114/http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/06/belg-j08.html|archive-date=1 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hjCXN">ElAmin, Ahmed (31 January 2006) [http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=65481-belgium-netherlands-dioxin Belgium, Netherlands meat sectors face dioxin crisis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914150715/http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=65481-belgium-netherlands-dioxin|date=14 September 2007}}. foodproductiondaily.com</ref><ref name="uoINh">{{cite news|title=Food Law News—EU&nbsp;: Contaminants—Commission Press Release (IP/99/399) Preliminary results of EU-inspection to Belgium|author=European Commission|publisher=School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, UK|date=16 June 1999|url=http://www.foodlaw.rdg.ac.uk/news/eu-99-40.htm|access-date=29 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927155917/http://www.foodlaw.rdg.ac.uk/news/eu-99-40.htm|archive-date=27 September 2006|url-status=live|author-link=European Commission}}</ref> A "rainbow coalition" emerged from six parties: the Flemish and the French-speaking Liberals, Social Democrats and Greens.<ref name="Mbcyv">{{cite news|title=Belgium's "rainbow" coalition sworn in|work=BBC News|date=12 July 1999|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/392004.stm|access-date=20 May 2007}}</ref> Later, a "[[Purple (government)|purple coalition]]" of Liberals and Social Democrats formed after the Greens lost most of their seats in the [[Belgian federal election, 2003|2003 election]].<ref name="9lpYO">{{cite web|title=La Chambre des représentants—Composition|trans-title=Composition of the Chamber of Representatives|date=9 March 2006|publisher=The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium|url=http://www.lachambre.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/pri/fiche/10F.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107200900/http://www.lachambre.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/pri/fiche/10F.pdf|archive-date=7 November 2006|access-date=25 May 2007|language=fr|url-status=live}}<!--REF FAILS TO CONFIRM TEXT (counting seats does not exclude possibility of Ecolo/NVA/FN as 5th etc parties)--></ref>

The government led by Prime Minister [[Guy Verhofstadt]] from 1999 to 2007 achieved a balanced budget, some [[tax reform]]s, a labor-market reform, scheduled [[Nuclear energy policy#Europe|nuclear phase-out]] and instigated legislation allowing more stringent [[War Crimes Law (Belgium)|war crime]] and more lenient [[drug harmfulness|soft drug usage]] prosecution. Restrictions on [[euthanasia]] were reduced. In 2003, Belgium became one of the first countries in the world to legalise [[Same-sex marriage in Belgium|same-sex marriage]].<ref name="brusselstimes">{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Lauren |title=Belgium celebrates 20 years of same-sex marriage |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/361629/belgium-celebrates-20-years-of-same-sex-marriage |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=The Brussels Times}}</ref> The government promoted active [[diplomacy]] in Africa<ref name="WEf4J">{{cite web|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0019846.html|access-date=27 May 2007|title=Rwanda|work=tiscali.reference|publisher=Tiscali UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924034710/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0019846.html|archive-date=24 September 2009|url-status=dead}} The article shows an example of Belgium's recent{{when|date=June 2020}} African policies.</ref> and [[Governmental positions on the Iraq War prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|opposed the invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="LZ5BE">{{cite news|title=Belgian demand halts NATO progress|agency=CNN|date=16 February 2003|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/16/sprj.irq.nato.belgium.ap/|access-date=16 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050116083744/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/16/sprj.irq.nato.belgium.ap/|archive-date=16 January 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the only country that does not have age restrictions on euthanasia.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37395286 |title=Belgium minor first to be granted euthanasia |access-date=6 January 2017|work=BBC News|date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106095903/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37395286|archive-date=6 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Verhofstadt's coalition fared badly in the [[Belgian federal election, 2007|June 2007 elections]]. For more than a year, the country experienced a [[2007 Belgian government formation|political crisis]].<ref name="N2qAB">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1002141.stm|title=Time-line Belgium|work=BBC News|date=5 January 2009|access-date=16 July 2009|quote=2007 September – Belgium without a government for 100 days.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929235647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1002141.stm|archive-date=29 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> This crisis was such that many observers speculated on a possible [[partition of Belgium]].<ref name="SanFranChro">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/12/MNB6SEM9K.DTL|title=Divisions could lead to a partition in Belgium|last=Bryant|first=Elizabeth|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=28 May 2008|date=12 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429194505/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F10%2F12%2FMNB6SEM9K.DTL|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBCJuly2008">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7507506.stm|title=Analysis: Where now for Belgium?|last=Hughes|first=Dominic|work=BBC News|date=15 July 2008|access-date=16 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719063736/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7507506.stm|archive-date=19 July 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph2010">{{cite news|title=Fears over 'break up' of Belgium|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/7982892/Fears-over-break-up-of-Belgium.html|last=Banks|first=Martin|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|date=6 September 2010|access-date=6 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909132726/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/7982892/Fears-over-break-up-of-Belgium.html|archive-date=9 September 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> From {{Nowrap|21 December}} 2007 until {{Nowrap|20 March}} 2008 the temporary [[Verhofstadt&nbsp;III Government]] was in office. This was a coalition of the [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams|Flemish]] and [[Humanist Democratic Centre|Francophone Christian Democrats]], the [[Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten|Flemish]] and [[Mouvement Réformateur|Francophone Liberals]] together with the [[Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)|Francophone Social Democrats]].<ref name="news">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7506640.stm|title=Belgian PM offers his resignation|work=BBC News|date=15 July 2008|access-date=29 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420193751/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7506640.stm|archive-date=20 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

On that day, a [[Leterme I Government|new government]], led by Flemish Christian Democrat [[Yves Leterme]], the actual winner of the federal elections of {{Nowrap|June 2007}}, was sworn in by the King. On {{Nowrap|15 July}} 2008 Leterme offered the resignation of the cabinet to the King, as no progress in [[state reform in Belgium|constitutional reforms]] had been made.<ref name="news" />
In December 2008, Leterme once more offered his resignation after a [[2008–2009 Belgian financial crisis|crisis]] surrounding the sale of [[Fortis (finance)|Fortis]] to [[BNP Paribas]].<ref name="r7UJ3">[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/19/belgium.government.resignation/index.html CNN.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201143115/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/19/belgium.government.resignation/index.html|date=1 February 2009}}, "Belgium Prime Minister offers resignation over banking deal"</ref> At this juncture, his resignation was accepted and [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams|Christian Democratic and Flemish]] [[Herman Van Rompuy]] was sworn in as Prime Minister on {{Nowrap|30 December}} 2008.<ref name="4GrHs">[https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSLS35202520081228 Belgian king asks Van Rompuy to form government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204055721/http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSLS35202520081228|date=4 February 2009}} Reuters.</ref>

After Herman Van Rompuy was designated the first permanent [[President of the European Council]] on {{Nowrap|19 November}} 2009, he offered the resignation of his government to King Albert&nbsp;II on {{Nowrap|25 November}} 2009. A few hours later, the [[Leterme II Government|new government]] under Prime Minister [[Yves Leterme]] was sworn in. On {{Nowrap|22 April}} 2010, Leterme again offered the resignation of his cabinet to the King<ref name="a18xf">{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-belgium-leterme-resigns-vld-liberals-democrats-quit-ruling-coalition|title=Prime Minister Leterme resigns after liberals quit government|date=22 April 2010|publisher=France 24|access-date=22 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426001006/http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-belgium-leterme-resigns-vld-liberals-democrats-quit-ruling-coalition|archive-date=26 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> after one of the coalition partners, the [[OpenVLD]], withdrew from the government, and on {{Nowrap|26 April}} 2010 King Albert officially accepted the resignation.<ref name="pFUq8">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100426-leterme-albert-accepts-resignation-prime-minister-government-collapse-belgium|title=King Albert&nbsp;II accepts resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme|publisher=France 24|access-date=29 April 2010|date=26 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429002512/http://www.france24.com/en/20100426-leterme-albert-accepts-resignation-prime-minister-government-collapse-belgium|archive-date=29 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Parliamentary elections in Belgium on {{Nowrap|13 June}} 2010 saw the Flemish nationalist [[New Flemish Alliance|N-VA]] become the largest party in Flanders, and the Socialist Party PS the largest party in Wallonia.<ref name="XVrGP">{{cite web|url=http://electionresources.org/be/chamber.php?election=2010|title=Federal Elections in Belgium – Chamber of Representatives Results|access-date=14 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922111232/http://electionresources.org/be/chamber.php?election=2010|archive-date=22 September 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Until December 2011, Belgium was governed by Leterme's [[caretaker government]] awaiting the end of the deadlocked negotiations for [[2010–2011 Belgian government formation|formation of a new government]]. By 30 March 2011, this set a new world record for the elapsed time without an official government, previously held by war-torn [[Iraq]].<ref name="BBC News 6 May 2015">{{cite web|title=Reality Check: How long can nations go without governments?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32612828|last=Kovacevic|first=Tamara|date=6 May 2015|website=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013111910/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32612828|archive-date=13 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally, in December 2011 the [[Di Rupo Government]] led by Walloon socialist Prime Minister [[Elio Di Rupo]] was sworn in.<ref name="PXMRM">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20111205-political-crisis-nears-end-new-premier-cabinet-named-di-rupo-king-albert-belgium|title=Political crisis nears an end as new PM, cabinet named|date=5 December 2011|website=France 24|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407040312/https://www.france24.com/en/20111205-political-crisis-nears-end-new-premier-cabinet-named-di-rupo-king-albert-belgium|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Belgian federal election, 2014|2014 federal election]] (coinciding with the [[Belgian regional elections, 2014|regional elections]]) resulted in a further electoral gain for the Flemish nationalist N-VA. However, the incumbent coalition (composed of Flemish and French-speaking Social Democrats, Liberals, and Christian Democrats) maintains a solid majority in Parliament and all electoral constituencies. On 22 July 2014, King Philippe nominated [[Charles Michel]] (MR) and [[Kris Peeters]] (CD&V) to [[2014 Belgian government formation|lead the formation of a new federal cabinet]] composed of the Flemish parties N-VA, CD&V, Open Vld and the French-speaking MR, which resulted in the [[Michel I Government|Michel Government]]. It was the first time N-VA was part of the federal cabinet, while the French-speaking side was represented only by the MR, which achieved a minority of the public votes in Wallonia.<ref name="wMR0S">{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belgium-agrees-to-form-coalition-government/a-17981531|title=Belgium agrees to form coalition government &#124; DW &#124; 07.10.2014|website=dw.com|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811110024/https://www.dw.com/en/belgium-agrees-to-form-coalition-government/a-17981531|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May [[2019 Belgian federal election|2019 federal elections]] in the Flemish-speaking northern region of Flanders, the far-right [[Vlaams Belang]] party made major gains. In the French-speaking southern area of Wallonia, the Socialists were strong. The moderate Flemish nationalist party, the N-VA, remained the largest party in parliament.<ref name="ftZtr">{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/no-coalition-in-sight-after-fractured-belgium-election/a-48894848|title=No coalition in sight after fractured Belgium election &#124; DW &#124; 27.05.2019|website=dw.com|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811110245/https://www.dw.com/en/no-coalition-in-sight-after-fractured-belgium-election/a-48894848|url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2019, Prime Minister [[Charles Michel]] was selected to hold the post of President of the [[European Council]].<ref name="j3g6O">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/who-is-charles-michel-the-next-president-of-the-european-council|title=Who is Charles Michel, the next President of the European Council?|first1=Timothée|last1=Houzel|date=1 April 2021|website=The New Federalist|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=11 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811110207/https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/who-is-charles-michel-the-next-president-of-the-european-council|url-status=live}}</ref> His successor [[Sophie Wilmès]] was Belgium's first female prime minister. She led the caretaker government since October 2019.<ref name="2hC0Z">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/28/belgium-first-female-pm-sophie-wilmes|title=Belgium gets first female PM as Sophie Wilmès takes office|date=28 October 2019|website=The Guardian|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518143714/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/28/belgium-first-female-pm-sophie-wilmes|url-status=live}}</ref> The Flemish Liberal party politician  [[Alexander De Croo]] became new prime minister in October 2020. The parties had agreed on the federal government 16 months after the elections.<ref name="yD8q7">{{cite web|url=https://www.neweurope.eu/article/belgium-agrees-on-federal-government-de-croo-to-become-pm/|title=Belgium agrees on federal government, De Croo to become PM|first=Zoi|last=Didili|date=1 October 2020|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111053156/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/belgium-agrees-on-federal-government-de-croo-to-become-pm/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Communities and regions===
{{Main|Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium}}
[[File:Communities of Belgium.svg|thumb|Communities:<br />{{legend|#fab274|[[Flemish Community]] / Dutch language area}}
{{legend striped|#fab274|#f2536b|up=yes|Flemish & French Community / bilingual language area}}
{{legend|#f2536b|[[French Community of Belgium|French Community]] / French language area}}{{legend|#40bb6a|[[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]] / German language area}}]]
[[File:Regions of Belgium.svg|thumb|Regions:<br />{{legend|#fab274|[[Flemish Region]] / Dutch language area}}{{legend|#2385d2|[[Brussels-Capital Region]] / bilingual area}}{{legend|#f2536b|[[Wallonia|Walloon Region]] / French and German language areas}}]]

Following a usage which can be traced back to the Burgundian and Habsburg courts,<ref name="zZuRK">{{cite book|title=Zweisprachigkeit in den Benelux-ländern|language=de|author=Kramer, Johannes|quote=Zur prestige Sprache wurde in den Spanischen Niederlanden ganz eindeutig das Französische. Die Vertreter Spaniens beherrschten normalerweise das Französische, nicht aber das Niederländische; ein beachtlicher Teil der am Hofe tätigen Adligen stammte aus Wallonien, das sich ja eher auf die spanische Seite geschlagen hatte als Flandern und Brabant. In dieser Situation war es selbstverständlich, dass die flämischen Adligen, die im Laufe der Zeit immer mehr ebenfalls zu Hofbeamten wurden, sich des Französischen bedienen mussten, wenn sie als gleichwertig anerkannt werden wollten. [Transl.: The prestigious language in the Spanish Netherlands was clearly French. Spain's representatives usually mastered French but not Dutch; a notable part of the nobles at the court came from Wallonia, which had taken party for the Spanish side to a higher extent than Flanders and Brabant. It was therefore evident within this context that the Flemish nobility, of which a progressively larger number became servants of the court, had to use French, if it wanted to get acknowledged as well.]|publisher=Buske Verlag|year=1984|page=69|isbn=978-3-87118-597-7}}</ref> in the 19th century it was necessary to speak French to belong to the governing upper class, and those who could only speak Dutch were effectively second-class citizens.<ref name="ii8cr">{{cite book|title=Political History of Belgium: From 1830 Onwards|author1=Witte, Els|author2=Craeybeckx, Jan|author3=Meynen, Alain|name-list-style=amp|publisher=Academic and Scientific Publishers|location=Brussels|year=2009|page=56}}</ref> Late that century, and continuing into the 20th century, [[Flemish movement]]s evolved to counter this situation.<ref name="Fitzmaurice1996-p31">[[#Fitzmaurice|Fitzmaurice (1996)]], p. 31.</ref>

While the people in Southern Belgium spoke French or dialects of French, and [[Frenchification of Brussels|most Brusselers adopted French]] as their first language, the Flemings refused to do so and succeeded progressively in making Dutch an equal language in the education system.<ref name="Fitzmaurice1996-p31" /> Following World War&nbsp;II, Belgian politics became increasingly dominated by the autonomy of its two main linguistic communities.<ref name="EED">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/belgium/background.html|title=Belgium|work=[[European Election Database]]|publisher=[[Norwegian Social Science Data Services]]|year=2010|access-date=8 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429005023/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/belgium/background.html|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Intercommunal tensions rose and the constitution was amended to minimize the potential for conflict.<ref name="EED" />

Based on the four language areas defined in 1962–63 (the Dutch, bilingual, French and German language areas), consecutive [[state reform in Belgium|revisions]] of [[Constitution of Belgium|the country's constitution]] in 1970, 1980, 1988 and 1993 established a unique form of a federal state with segregated political power into three levels:<ref name="rolandwillemyns">{{cite journal|title=The Dutch-French Language Border in Belgium|journal=Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development|volume=23|issue=1&2|year=2002|pages=36–49|author=Willemyns, Roland|url=http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jmmd/023/0036/jmmd0230036.pdf|access-date=22 June 2007|doi=10.1080/01434630208666453|s2cid=143809695|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626185804/http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jmmd/023/0036/jmmd0230036.pdf|archive-date=26 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="constitution2">{{cite web|title=The Belgian Constitution – Article 4|publisher=Belgian House of Representatives|date=January 2009|access-date=26 June 2011|url=http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetEN.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706134014/http://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/publications/constitution/grondwetEN.pdf|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
# The [[Belgian federal government|federal government]], based in Brussels.
# The three language communities:
#* the [[Flemish Community]] (Dutch-speaking);
#* the [[French Community of Belgium|French Community]] (French-speaking);{{efn|Since 2011, the French Community has used the name "Wallonia-Brussels Federation" ({{langx|fr|Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles|link=no}}), which is controversial because its name in the [[Constitution of Belgium|Belgian Constitution]] has not changed and because it is seen as a political statement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=La nouvelle Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles défraye la chronique |url=https://www.lalibre.be/regions/bruxelles/2011/05/25/la-nouvelle-federation-wallonie-bruxelles-defraye-la-chronique-2T2TN7FK7JETVHQP74NJ62TO44/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Une Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles |url=https://www.dhnet.be/archives-journal/2011/04/05/une-federation-wallonie-bruxelles-QGB7F434AZHEJLEGBGW4DC2C44/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=DHnet |language=fr}}</ref>}}
#* the [[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]].
# The three regions:
#* the [[Flemish Region]], subdivided into five [[provinces of Belgium|provinces]];
#* the [[Wallonia|Walloon Region]], subdivided into five provinces;
#* the [[Brussels-Capital Region]].

The [[Language legislation in Belgium|constitutional language areas]] determine the official languages in their municipalities, as well as the geographical limits of the empowered institutions for specific matters.<ref name="Fitzmaurice1996-p121">[[#Fitzmaurice|Fitzmaurice (1996)]], p. 121</ref> Although this would allow for seven parliaments and governments when the Communities and Regions were created in 1980, Flemish politicians decided to merge both.<ref name="Fitzmaurice1996-p122">[[#Fitzmaurice|Fitzmaurice (1996)]], p. 122.</ref> Thus the Flemings just have one single institutional body of parliament and government is empowered for all except federal and specific municipal matters.{{efn|The Constitution set out seven institutions each of which can have a parliament, government and administration. In fact, there are only six such bodies because the Flemish Region merged into the Flemish Community. This single Flemish body thus exercises powers about Community matters in the bilingual area of Brussels-Capital and in the Dutch language area, while about Regional matters only in Flanders.}}

The overlapping boundaries of the Regions and Communities have created two notable peculiarities: the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region (which came into existence nearly a decade after the other regions) is included in both the Flemish and French Communities, and the territory of the German-speaking Community lies wholly within the Walloon Region. Conflicts about jurisdiction between the bodies are resolved by the [[Constitutional Court of Belgium]]. The structure is intended as a compromise to allow different cultures to live together peacefully.<ref name="Fitzmaurice" />

===Locus of policy jurisdiction===
The Federal State's authority includes justice, defense, federal police, social security, nuclear energy, monetary policy and public debt, and other aspects of public finances. State-owned companies include the [[Belgian Post Group]] and [[National Railway Company of Belgium|Belgian Railways]]. The Federal Government is responsible for the obligations of Belgium and its federalized institutions towards the European Union and NATO. It controls substantial parts of public health, home affairs and foreign affairs.<ref name="fedgov1">{{cite web|title=The Federal Government's Powers|work=.be Portal|publisher=Belgian Federal Government|url=http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federal_authorities/competence_federal_government/|access-date=4 February 2011|date=3 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216052602/http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/federal_authorities/competence_federal_government/|archive-date=16 December 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The budget—without the debt—controlled by the federal government amounts to about 50% of the national fiscal income. The federal government employs around 12% of the civil servants.<ref name="3JE9u">{{cite book|quote=In 2002, 58.92% of the fiscal income was going to the budget of the federal government, but more than one-third was used to pay the interests of the public debt. Without including this post, the share of the federal government budget would be only 48.40% of the fiscal income. There are 87.8% of the civil servants who are working for the Regions or the Communities and 12.2% for the Federal State.|author=Lagasse, Charles-Etienne|title=Les nouvelles institutions politiques de la Belgique et de l'Europe|publisher=Erasme|location=Namur|year=2003|isbn=978-2-87127-783-5|page=289}}</ref>

Communities exercise their authority only within linguistically determined geographical boundaries, originally oriented towards the individuals of a Community's language: culture (including audiovisual media), education and the use of the relevant language. Extensions to personal matters less directly connected with language comprise health policy (curative and preventive medicine) and assistance to individuals (protection of youth, social welfare, aid to families, [[immigrant]] assistance services, and so on.).<ref name="fedgov2">{{cite web|title=The Communities|work=.be Portal|publisher=Belgian Federal Government|url=http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/communities/|access-date=26 June 2011|date=3 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615153816/http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/communities/|archive-date=15 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Regions have authority in fields that can be broadly associated with their territory. These include economy, employment, agriculture, water policy, housing, public works, energy, transport, the environment, town and country planning, nature conservation, credit and foreign trade. They supervise the provinces, municipalities and intercommunal utility companies.<ref name="fedgov3">{{cite web|title=The Regions|work=.be Portal|publisher=Belgian Federal Government|url=http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/regions/|access-date=26 June 2011|date=3 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615153938/http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/government/regions/|archive-date=15 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

In several fields, the different levels each have their own say on specifics. With education, for instance, the autonomy of the Communities neither includes decisions about the compulsory aspect nor allows for setting minimum requirements for awarding qualifications, which remain federal matters.<ref name="fedgov1" /> Each level of government can be involved in scientific research and international relations associated with its powers. The treaty-making power of the Regions' and Communities' Governments is the broadest of all the Federating units of all the Federations all over the world.<ref name="Lagasse1">{{cite web|url=http://www.kazanfed.ru/en/actions/konfer8/6/|title=Federalism in Russia, Canada and Belgium: experience of comparative research|language=fr|quote=La Belgique constitue ainsi le seul exemple clair du transfert d'une partie de la compétence " affaires étrangères " à des entités fédérées. (Transl.: Belgium is thus the only clear example of a transfer of a part of the "Foreign Affairs" competences to federated units.)|author=Lagasse, Charles-Etienne|date=18 May 2004|publisher=Kazan Institute of Federalism|access-date=5 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620120400/http://www.kazanfed.ru/en/actions/konfer8/6/|archive-date=20 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lagasse2">{{cite book|title=Les nouvelles institutions de la Belgique et de l'Europe|language=fr|quote=[Le fédéralisme belge] repose sur une combinaison unique d'équipollence, d'exclusivité et de prolongement international des compétences. ([Belgian federalism] is based on a unique combination of equipollence, of exclusivity, and of international extension of competences.)|author=Lagasse, Charles-Etienne|page=603}}</ref><ref name="Suinen">{{cite web|url=http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2000/10/SUINEN/14406.html|title=Une Première mondiale|work=[[Le Monde diplomatique]]|language=fr|quote=Dans l'organisation de ces autonomies, la Belgique a réalisé une " première " mondiale: afin d'éviter la remise en cause, par le biais de la dimension internationale, de compétences exclusives transférées aux entités fédérées, les communautés et régions se sont vu reconnaître une capacité et des pouvoirs internationaux. (In organizing its autonomies, Belgium realized a World's First: to avoid a relevant stalemate, international consequences caused transfers of exclusive competences to federal, community and regional entities that are recognized to have become internationally enabled and empowered.)|author=Suinen, Philippe|date=October 2000|access-date=5 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001117170500/http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2000/10/SUINEN/14406.html|archive-date=17 November 2000|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Foreign relations===
[[File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Schuman - Berlaymont - 01.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Berlaymont building]] in Brussels, seat of the [[European Commission]]]]
{{Main|Foreign relations of Belgium}}

Because of its location at the crossroads of [[Western Europe]], Belgium has historically been the route of invading armies from its larger neighbors. With virtually defenseless borders, Belgium has traditionally sought to avoid domination by the more powerful nations which surround it through a policy of mediation. The Belgians have been strong advocates of [[European integration]]. The headquarters of [[NATO]] and of several of the institutions of the [[European Union]] are located in Belgium.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Belgian Armed Forces}}
[[File:FA-109 (50064453591).jpg|thumb|[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] of the Belgian Air Component]]
The Belgian Armed Forces had 23,200 active personnel in 2023, including 8,500 in the [[Belgian Land Component|Land Component]], 1,400 in the [[Belgian Naval Component|Naval Component]], 4,900 in the [[Belgian Air Component|Air Component]], 1,450 in the [[Belgian Medical Component|Medical Component]], and 6,950 in joint service, in addition to 5,900 reserve personnel.<ref name="iiss2023">{{Cite book |author=IISS |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |date=2023 |title=The Military Balance 2023 |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies |page=75 }}</ref> In 2019, Belgium's defense budget totaled €4.303&nbsp;billion ($4.921&nbsp;billion) representing .93% of its GDP.<ref name="R8Zsp">{{cite web|url=http://www.eda.europa.eu/DefenceData/Belgium?DDYear=2010|title=Defence Data of Belgium in 2010|publisher=[[European Defence Agency]]|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924153002/http://www.eda.europa.eu/DefenceData/Belgium?DDYear=2010|archive-date=24 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The operational commands of the four components are subordinate to the Staff Department for Operations and Training of the [[Ministry of Defence (Belgium)|Ministry of Defense]], which is headed by the [[ACOS Operations and Training|Assistant Chief of Staff Operations and Training]], and to the [[Chief of Defence (Belgium)|Chief of Defense]].<ref name="LAP2a">{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.be/def/index.asp|title=Defensie La Défense|access-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614214307/http://www.mil.be/def/index.asp|archive-date=14 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The Belgian military consists of volunteers (conscription was abolished in 1995), and citizens of other EU states, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, or Lichtenstein are also able to join. Belgium has troops deployed in several African countries as part of UN or EU missions, in Iraq for the [[war against the Islamic State]], and in eastern Europe for the NATO presence there.<ref name="iiss2023" /><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belgium/#military-and-security Belgium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109104644/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belgium/#military-and-security |date=9 January 2021 }}. CIA World Factbook. Accessed 10 February 2024.</ref>

The effects of the [[Second World War]] made [[collective security]] a priority for [[Foreign relations of Belgium|Belgian foreign policy]]. In March 1948 Belgium signed the [[Treaty of Brussels]] and then joined [[NATO]] in 1948. However, the integration of the armed forces into NATO did not begin until after the [[Korean War]].<ref name="HBglz">David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr, 'Armies of NATO's Central Front,' Jane's Publishing Company, 1985, p.59</ref> The Belgians, along with the Luxembourg government, sent a detachment of battalion strength to fight in Korea known as the [[Belgian United Nations Command]]. This mission was the first in a long line of UN missions which the Belgians supported. Currently, the Belgian Marine Component is working closely together with the [[Dutch Navy]] under the command of the [[Admiral Benelux]].

According to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]], Belgium is the 16th most peaceful country in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf}}</ref>