Articles

Organizing Belgian Cabinets : Governments in Turmoil

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Abstract

The internal organization of Belgian governments is described. Several ministerial committees for the preparation of governmental decisions have been institutionalized. The ministers and state secretaries who are members are chosen according the functional competence, region or community association, and party or faction affiliation.
A core cabinet for general policy, which is chaired by the prime minister, and in which are represented the most important members of each coalition partner, tends to take over the role of the council of ministers on crucial matters as an instrument of collegial decision-making.
This trend does not contribute to the consolidation of the prime minister's power.
The existing ministerial committees, one for each community or region, developed into governments.
The article deals also with the internal organization-charts and party distribution among members of subunits of the Belgian governments from 1972 to 1981.

How to Cite:

Van Gassel, H., (1981) “Organizing Belgian Cabinets : Governments in Turmoil”, Res Publica 23(2-3), 277-305. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v23i2-3.19352