België Profiel Gouvernement

name: Brussels

geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

4 Oktober 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 Juli 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 Juli (1831)

history: drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 Februari 1831, entered into force 26 Juli 1831, revised 14 Juli 1993 (creating a federal state)

amendments: "revisions" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament; amended many times, last in 2014 (2016)

18 jaar; universal and compulsory

chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH (daughter of the monarch, born 25 October 2001)

head of government: Prime Minister Sophie WILMES (since 26 October 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Alexander DE CROO (since 22 October 2012), Kris PEETERS (since 11 October 2014), Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008)

cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by Parliament