Editing Politics of Belgium (section)

====Head of state====
{{Main|Monarchy of Belgium}}

'''[[Monarchy of Belgium|The King of the Belgians]]''' is the constitutional head of the Belgian state and holds office for life. The duties of the king are laid out by the Belgian Constitution and other laws enforced under it.

As titular head of state, the king plays a ceremonial and symbolic role in the nation. His main political function is to designate a political leader to form a new cabinet after an [[election]] or the resignation of a cabinet. In conditions where there is a "constructive vote of no-confidence," the [[government]] has to resign and the [[Belgian Chamber of Representatives|lower house]] of [[Belgian Federal Parliament|Parliament]] proposes a new [[prime minister]] to the king.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fed-parl.be/gwuk0006.htm#E11E6 |title=Constitution of Belgium - Article 96 |publisher=Fed-parl.be |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403214530/http://www.fed-parl.be/gwuk0006.htm#E11E6 |archive-date=2010-04-03 }}</ref> The king is also seen as playing a symbolic unifying role, representing a common national Belgian identity.

[[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]] succeeded his father [[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]] on 21 July 2013 upon his abdication.