Belgium (België) and (Luxemburg)

Recent history The countries share many elements of common history, having experienced repeated periods of cross-border conflict, co-operation and government during their history. The most modern example of this is the Economic Union, founded in 1958, which has acted alongside the European project to bring these countries’ economies, along with that of the , closer together . Both countries were seriously affected by the European wars of the first half of the twentieth century. This shaped their political systems after 1945, which put strong emphasis on consensus. Politics in both countries has been dominated over the past half century by the twin forces of Christian and Social democracy. In recent years, this has been supplemented by the rise of Green Parties and the resurgence of radical nationalism in . In Luxembourg, the Christian Social Party has been the dominant political group since World War II and has played a role in all governments.

Belgium: key facts How Capital does a General Election Brussels actually work?

 Population 11 million (2014) The UK is a liberal democracy. This means that we democratically elect politicians, who represent % of our total interests. EU population It also involves that2% individual rights are protected.  Official languages Dutch, French and German The type Year of ofliberal EU accession democracy we have is a 1958constitutional (founding monarchy, member) where the powers of 100 the monarch are limited by the terms and conditions put down in the constitution.  Currency Euro since 1999 67 7.7%  Schengen Area member Yes, since 1995

 Seats in 21

Belgium is a federal state, with three separate administrative regions: southern, French-speaking ; northern, Parliamentary system Dutch-speaking Flanders, and Brussels, where both languages are considered official. This cultural and linguistic division has led to prolonged tensionThe UK oftenhas a parliamentaryfanned by the ultrasystem-nationalist of democratic Vlaams governance. Blok party, Unlike which presidentialwas deemed and racist by the Belgian High Court in 2004semi. The-presidential party re- establishedsystems, there itself is thean interconnection same year as the between Vlaams theBelang legislative (Flemish (law Interest)- party. Several governments havemaking) collapsed and executive due to the (law seemingly-enforcing) irreconcilable branches of differences government between in a parliamentary the northern and southern regions. In 2007, an inconclusivesystem. In the general UK, this election means led that to the prolonged executive negotiations (consisting toof formthe Queen a coalition and the government and the resulting governmentsweak government of England, collapsed Scotland, in 2008. Wales Divisions and Northern in Belgium Ireland) lingered is accountableand the government to the of centre-right Prime Minister collapsed again in April 2010 over constitutional disagreements between legislature or Parliament (House of Commons, House of Lords and devolved Assemblies in the Flemish and French parties. Subsequent elections in June 2010 failed to produce a clear winner: the New Flemish Wales and Northern Ireland). Alliance (a Flemish separatist party) won the most seats, but not enough to hold a majority. After a record-breaking 541 days without a government, French-speaking Socialist was sworn in as Prime Minister in 2011. Belgium’s political instability wasAppointed particularly Prime worrying Minister for (or the chancellor) EU because as Headit coincided of Government with the countryand a monarch taking over (or the rotating 6- month Presidency ofceremonial the EU Council president) of Ministers as Head between of State. July and December 2010.

In Luxembourg, conversely, stability and long-serving governments are the norm. However, in 2008 a minor crisis occurred when Grand Duke Henri refused to sign into law a bill which approved euthanasia. The crisis was resolved with a constitutional amendment that removed the requirement for the monarch to approve all laws, making the monarch’s role primarily ceremonial.

First-Past-The-Post Members of Parliament in the House of Commons are elected using the first-past-the- Luxembourg: key facts post electoralCapital system. Each of the 650 votingLuxembourg constituencies in the UK are represented by

an MP. Population During the general and most local elections,550,000 (2014) the candida te with most of the votes becomes the local representative. Candidates campaign door-to-door, hold debates and  % of total EU population 0.1% publish Official manifestos languages (comparable to shoppingFrench list of and what German they are planning to do once they areYear in power).of EU accession Eligible voters, about 46m1958 in (foundingthe UK, re member)ceive their polling card once

they registerCurrency online, or they can vote by post.Euro since 1999

 Schengen Area member Yes, since 1995 Party with most of the votes is invited by the Queen to form a government. If there is no  Seats in European Parliament 6 clear winner, there is a hung Parliament. In this case, a minority or coalition government

can be formed. A minority government does not have an overall majority in Parliament. A © CIVITAS Institute for the Studycoalition of Civil Societygovernment 2015 means that two or more political partiesAuthor: agree Wil to James, share 04/2006 power in More EU factsheets: http://www.government.civitas.org.uk/eu If that-facts does not work out, new elections mayLast update: be called. Lotte van Buuren, 05/2015

Belgium (België) and Luxembourg (Luxemburg)

Current government Belgium and Luxembourg operate under constitutional monarchies. In Belgium, King Philippe has a mainly symbolic position. Political power is divided between the national government, led by the Prime Minister, currently , and the regional governments. In Luxembourg, power is shared between the monarch, Grand Duke Henri, the cabinet headed by Prime Minist er (Democratic Party, DP), and the Parliament. The current government, a coalition of the DP, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) The Greens (DG), has been in power since 2013.

Unemployment rate Public budget deficit/surplus GDP per capita in PPS (2015) 1 (2013) 0 9.8% 7.7% -1 EU 257 5.7% -2 119 B 100 How-3 does a General Election actually work? L The -4UK is a liberal democracy. This means that we democratically elect politicians, who B L EU represent-5 our interests. It also involves that individual rightsL are protected.B EU

2011 2012 2013 2014 Relations with the EU The type of liberal democracy we have is a constitutional monarchy, where the powers of Both countries have always maintainedthe monarch a close are limitedrelationship by the with terms the and EU. conditions As founder put members down in they the constitution.have been at the forefront of pursuing European integration. They are fully signed up to key measures of closer co-operation including the Euro and the Schengen Convention. However, attitudes towards the EU project have altered in recent years. Nevertheless, politicians in both countries remain keen supporters of the EU. Former Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, who currentlyParliamentary presides over system the European Commission, was a particularly strong voice in support of the EU constitutional project, which led to the signing of the Lisbon Treaty (2007). The UK has a parliamentary system of democratic governance. Unlike presidential and

Facts and figures semi-presidential systems, there is an interconnection between the legislative (law-  Belgium is a European transportmaking) hub, and largely executive thanks (law to-enforcing) the major branches port at Antwerp of government in a parliamentary  Many of Luxembourg’s inhabitantssystem. In are the tri UK,-lingual, this means speaking that French, the executive German, (consisting and Luxembourgish, of the Queen which and theis a mixture of the two governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) is accountable to the  Belgium hosts the headquarterslegislature of the or EUParliament and NATO (House in its ofcapital Commons, city Brussels House of Lords and devolved Assemblies in

Wales and Northern Ireland). Luxembourg imports Belgian exports (2015) Belgian imports (2015) Luxembourg exports (2015) (2015) Appointed Prime Minister (or chancellor) as Head of Government and a monarch (or 17% 20%

29% ceremonial president) as Head of State. 34% From EU From EU To EU states To EU states states states From non- To non-EU From non- To non-EU EU states states EU states 66% states 71% 83% 80%

First-Past-The-Post Members of Parliament in the House of Commons are elected using the first-past-the- Technical Terms post electoral system. Each of the 650 voting constituencies in the UK are represented by

 Benelux: a compound titlean made MP. up During of the first the syllables general of and the member most local countries’ elections, names the(Belgium, candida the teNetherlands, with most and of Luxembourg) the votes  Consensus: political agreement around a majority opinion  Coalition: a formal agreementbecomes between the political local partirepresentative.es to share power Candidates in government campaign door-to-door, hold debates and  PPS: GDP per head is expressedpublish in Purchasing manifestos Power (comparable Standards (PPS) to shoppingto eliminate list the ofdifferences what they in price are levels planning between to docountries once allowing meaningful volumethey comparisons are in power). of GDP betweenEligible countriesvoters, about 46m in the UK, receive their polling card once Links  they register online, or they can vote by post. http://www.belgium.be/en/  http://www.gouvernement.lu/  http://ec.europa.eu/eurostatParty with most of the votes is invited by the Queen to form a government. If there is no  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2145.html  http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/index_en.htmclear winner, there is a hung Parliament. In this case, a minority or coalition government can be formed. A minority government does not have an overall majority in Parliament. A © CIVITAS Institute for the Studycoalition of Civil Societygovernment 2015 means that two or more political partiesAuthor: agree Wil to James, share 04/2006 power in More EU factsheets: http://www.government.civitas.org.uk/eu If that-facts does not work out, new elections mayLast update: be called. Lotte van Buuren, 05/2015