Articles

De emancipatie van de ministerraad onder druk van de Tweede Wereldoorlog

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Abstract

Since the creation of the Belgian state in 1830, the kings, head of state, always tried to expand their political  influence. Part of this strategy was the treatment of the ministers as individuals, not as a council. The process of democratisation and the development of political parties pushed back this royal influence. In the meantime, as a result of the fact that coalitions were necessary to establish a government, the Council of Ministers was developping more and more as an institution. That was necessary to gain some governmental stability. This
permanent Council was not stated in the constitution of 1830. King Leopold III did the same during the thirties as his predecessors and tried to block this evolution. The Second World War established the circumstances to expand his power. The Council ofM inisters choosed for the western democracies. Leopold III did not. Nevertheless the dynasty was not treathened but Leopold, who was not able to adapt, had to forsake the throne. After the war, the Council of Ministers was acknowledged as one of the most important institutions of the Belgian political system.

How to Cite:

Vandeweyer, L., (1996) “De emancipatie van de ministerraad onder druk van de Tweede Wereldoorlog”, Res Publica 38(1), 159-180. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v38i1.18656