PowerPoint-presentatie

THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT

The ‘Day After’ Monday May 26th

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Content The Institute ‘Flemish Parliament’ : Corporate & Institutional Organisation The Flemish Parliament : the ‘Day After’

The Flemish Parliament : the ‘Weeks Ahead’ Formal starting up of the new elected Flemish Parliament

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Corporate & Institutional Organisation  Flemish Parliament is one of the six parliaments in the federal state of Belgium - since 1993 Understanding the structure of the Belgian federal state Main characteristic : contrary to other federal states, two kind of member-states : regions and communities -- explains why this model is so complicated Difference between Regions and Communuties ?

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Member states of the Belgian Federal State: - Regions : 3 - Communities : 3

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Corporate and Institutional Organisation Flemish Parliament : Parliament of the Flemish Region in Belgium  Territory of the five Flemish provinces

Parliament of the Flemish Community in Belgium  Territory of the five Flemish provinces and the Dutchspeaking inhabitants of the bi-lingual Region of Brussel

One Parliament, one Government and one administration for the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community

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• De Vlaamse Volksvertegenwoordiger stelt een regelgevende tekst op • Nauwelijks of geen vormvoorschriften

• Nauwelijks of geen procedurevoorschriften • Parlementslid kan beroep doen op legistiek advies • Niet verplicht het uitgebrachte advies te volgen

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Corporate & Institutional Organisation GOVERNMENT-MAKING POWER GOVERNMENT-SUPERVISING POWER ‘Question time’ in plenary session on wednesday  Interpellations and oral questions in plenary sessions and committee meetings Written questions : yearly average of 7.500 during period 2009-2014 !

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Corporate & Institutional Organisation  LAW-MAKING POWER : VOTING FLEMISH LAWS (decrees) Parliament of the Flemish Region :  Urban planning, public works and transport ,,,

Parliament of the Flemish Community :  Use of languages, culture, media, education ,,,

Brussels MP’s : voting-right in plenary session only on decrees concerning community matters !!  VOTING THE BUDGET 28 billion € in 2014 11

IMPACT OF THE SIXTH STATE-REFORM OF 2014 FOR THE NEW FLEMISH PARLIAMENT More competencies : child benefits, labour market policies, socio economic permits, price-control, speed control, road safety, health care and care for the elder …  Higher budget : + 11 billion € Fiscal autonomy

Corporate & Institutional Organisation Particularity of the Belgian Federal System : Principle ‘In foro interno, in foro externo’ : political level that has competence for that area – f.i. education is at Flanders’ level – also excercises this competence at international level  Flanders concludes international treaties concerning its competencies, f.e. education, agriculture  International treaties are debated and voted in the Flemish Parliament  Unique situation for federal states

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Corporate & Institutional Organisation In foro interno, in foro externo’ in the EU-decision making process : Flemish Parliament acts within its competencies as a national parliament in the EU-decision making process Standing committees organise debriefings of the Council meetings when participation of Flemish ministers Standing committees organise meetings and hearings about proposals that are important for Flanders

Flemish Parliament acts as a national parliament in the subsidiarity procedure Standing committees and m-p’s participate in international Joint Parliamentary Meetings Role of the European Office of the Flemish Parliament

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THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT ‘THE DAY AFTER’

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Election of the Flemish Parliament 124 directly elected members :  118 from the territory of the Flanders Region : elected in the five constituencies/provinces of Flanders  6 from the bilingual territory of the Brussels –Capital Region  Proportional representation with 5% election threshold at the level of the constituency  Cannot be dissolved : ‘Legislature parliament’ for five years  Results of the Flemish elections of May 25th :

 6 Groups -- Members of the same Party  Gender-analysis : % of women in parliament  % of new members of parliament 16

Member states of the Belgian Federal State: - Regions : 3 - Communities : 3

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THE FLEMISH PARLIAMENT ‘THE WEEKS AHEAD’

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The ‘Weeks Ahead’ Preparation of the installation of the new Flemish Parliment Verification of the results of the elections

Verification of credentials of the new elected members of Flemish Parliament Task of the administration of the Flemish Parliament

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The ‘Weeks Ahead’  June 17th : Installation of the newly elected Flemish Parliament  Date : according to the special laws on state-reform  Session is opened by the ‘temporary speaker’ : newly chosen member that has been member of the Flemish Parliament for the longest time  Official verification of the results of the elections and the credentials as prepared by the administration  Speaker takes oath of the new elected m-p’s

 Formal formation of the groups  Recognised’ Groups : minimum of 5 members –receive resources to establish a secretariat : budget, staff.. 23

The weeks Ahead Nomination of the Speaker ?

the Bureau (the Board of the House - proportional) ? Within 14 days after the installation meeting Sanction : parliament cannot work !!

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The weeks Ahead Nomination of the new Flemish Government ??  Initiative taken by the largest group Majority in Parliament Flemish Government : 9 members – max. 11 – impact 6th State Reform ? One member must live in the bilingual BrusselsCapita Area Speaker takes the oath of the Flemish ministers and the minister-president Minister-president : oath also taken by the King Sanction : parliament without a government can hardly work 25

The ‘Weeks Ahead’ June 18th - ???? Nomination of Speaker (and Bureau) Flemish Government are interconnected : political deal

 Appointment of the Standing committees of the Flemish Parliament 2009 – 2014 : 12 committees ; 15 members 2014 – 2019 : impact of the 6th State Reform ?

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The ‘Weeks Ahead’ September 22th : Opening of the parliamentary session 2014-2015 :

Flemish Parliament takes up its ‘normal’ functions : Voting decrees Budget approval Controlling the Flemish Government

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