Belgique Gouvernement Profil 2008

Capitale

nom: Brussels
coordonnées géographiques: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
différence de temps: 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

Fête de l'Indépendance

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

Fête nationale

21 Juillet (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I

Constitution

7 Février 1831; amended many times; revised 14 Juillet 1993 to create a federal state

Suffrage - Age minimum de l'électeur

18 ans; universal et forcé

Pouvoir exécutif

chef d'état (Président): King ALBERT II (depuis 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
chef de gouvernement (1er ministre): Prime Minister Yves LETERME (20 March 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament