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Flemish Government

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Flemish Government
Vlaamse Regering
Emblem of the Flemish administration (Dutch: Vlaamse overheid)
Overview
Established22 December 1981; 42 years ago (1981-12-22)
PolityFlanders (Community & Region)
LeaderMinister-President
Appointed byFlemish Parliament
Responsible toFlemish Parliament
Annual budget€ 44.7 billion (2018)
HeadquartersMartyrs' Square, Brussels, Belgium
Websitewww.flanders.be

The Flemish Government (Dutch: Vlaamse regering [ˌvlaːmsə rəˈɣeːrɪŋ] ⓘ) is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region of Belgium. It consists of a government cabinet, headed by the Minister-President and accountable to the Flemish Parliament, and the public administration (civil service) divided into 13 policy areas, each with an executive department and multiple agencies.

The Flemish Government cabinet consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament. At least one minister must come from Brussels. The ministers are drawn from the political parties which, in practice, form the governing coalition. The Government is chaired by the Flemish Minister-President. Ministers head executive departments of the government administration. Ministers must defend their policies and performance in person before the Flemish Parliament. The Flemish Government must receive and keep the confidence of the Flemish Parliament. Until 1993 the Flemish Government was called the Flemish Executive (Vlaamse Executieve).

Cabinet composition

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Diependaele (2024-current)

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Government coalition 2024-present

The coalition replaced the Jambon Government following the 2024 Belgian federal election and again consisted of three parties, together having a narrow majority of 65 seats out of 124 seats total. The   N-VA (31 seats) and   CD&V (16 seats) were already part of the outgoing coalition, with   Vooruit (18 seats) now replacing the Open Vld.

Flemish Government - Diependaele 2024-current
Party Name Function
N-VA Matthias Diependaele Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Innovation en Industry, External Affairs, Digitalisation, and Facility Management
N-VA Ben Weyts Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Budget and Finance, Vlaamse Rand, Real Estate Heritage, and Animal Welfare
Vooruit Melissa Depraetere Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Housing, Energy and Climate, Tourism, and Youth
CD&V Hilde Crevits Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister of the Interior, Urban and Rural Policy, Society, Integration and Inclusion, Administration, Social Economy, and Marine Fishing
N-VA Zuhal Demir Flemish Minister for Education, Justice, and Employment
N-VA Annick De Ridder Flemish Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Ports, and Sport
N-VA Cieltje Van Achter Flemish Minister for Brussels, and Media
Vooruit Caroline Gennez Flemish minister for Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Culture, and Equal Opportunities
CD&V Jo Brouns Flemish Minister for Agriculture and Environment


Jambon (2019-2024)

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Government coalition 2019-2024
Flemish Government - Jambon 2019-current
Party Name Function
N-VA Jan Jambon Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Culture, Foreign Policy and Development Cooperation
CD&V Hilde Crevits (until 17 May 2022) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Employment, Social Economy, Innovation and Agriculture
CD&V Hilde Crevits (from 18 May 2022) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Welfare, Health and Family
Open Vld Bart Somers (until 6 November 2023) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for the Interior, Administrative Affairs, Integration, and Equal Opportunities
Open Vld Gwendolyn Rutten (from 7 November 2023 until 2 August 2024) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for the Interior, Administrative Affairs, Integration, and Equal Opportunities
N-VA Ben Weyts Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Education, Animal Welfare, Brussels Periphery and Sport
N-VA Zuhal Demir Flemish Minister for Justice and Enforcement, Environment, Energy and Tourism
CD&V Wouter Beke (until 12 May 2022) Flemish Minister for Welfare, Health, Family and Poverty Reduction
CD&V Jo Brouns (from 18 May 2022) Flemish Minister for Economy, Employment, Social Economy, Innovation and Agriculture
N-VA Matthias Diependaele Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget, Housing and Immovable Heritage
Open Vld Lydia Peeters (until 2 August 2024) Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works
Open Vld Lydia Peeters (from 3 August 2024) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for the Interior, Administrative Affairs, Integration, Equal Opportunities, Mobility and Public Works
CD&V Benjamin Dalle Flemish Minister for Brussels, Media, Youth and Poverty Reduction (Poverty Reduction from 18 May 2022)

Homans (2019)

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Government coalition 2019-present
Flemish Government - Homans 2019 (Jul-Oct)
Party Name Function
N-VA Liesbeth Homans Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Public Governance, Civic Integration, Housing, Equal Opportunities and Poverty Reduction
CD&V Hilde Crevits Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Education
Open Vld Sven Gatz (until 18 July 2019) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Media, Culture, Youth and Brussels
Open Vld Lydia Peeters (from 18 July 2019) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget, Energy, Media, Culture and Youth
N-VA Ben Weyts Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works, the Brussels Periphery, Tourism, Animal Welfare, Foreign Policy and Immovable Heritage
CD&V Jo Vandeurzen Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family
Open Vld Lydia Peeters (until 18 July 2019) Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget and Energy
Open Vld Sven Gatz (from 18 July 2019) Flemish Minister for Brussels
N-VA Philippe Muyters Flemish Minister for Work, Economy, Innovation, Scientific Policy and Sport
CD&V Koen Van den Heuvel Flemish Minister for Town and Country Planning, Environment and Nature

Bourgeois (2014–2019)

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Government coalition 2014-2019
Flemish Government - Bourgeois 2014-2019
Party Name Function
N-VA Geert Bourgeois Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Foreign Policy and Immovable Heritage
CD&V Hilde Crevits Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Education
Open Vld Annemie Turtelboom (until 29 April 2016) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget and Energy
Open Vld Bart Tommelein (from 29 April 2016 until 30 November 2018) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget and Energy
Open Vld Lydia Peeters (from 30 November 2018) Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget and Energy
N-VA Liesbeth Homans Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Public Governance, Civic Integration, Housing, Equal Opportunities and Poverty Reduction
CD&V Jo Vandeurzen Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family
Open Vld Sven Gatz (until 30 November 2018) Flemish Minister for Media, Culture, Youth and Brussels
Open Vld Sven Gatz (from 30 November 2018) Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Media, Culture, Youth and Brussels
N-VA Ben Weyts Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works, the Brussels Periphery, Tourism and Animal Welfare
CD&V Joke Schauvliege (until 5 February 2019) Flemish Minister for Town and Country Planning, Environment and Nature
CD&V Koen Van den Heuvel (from 6 February 2019) Flemish Minister for Town and Country Planning, Environment and Nature
N-VA Philippe Muyters Flemish Minister for Work, Economy, Innovation, Scientific Policy and Sport

Peeters II (2009–2014)

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Following the 7 June 2009 election,  CD&V (31 seats),  N-VA (16 seats) and  SP.A (19 seats) parties formed a coalition.

Government coalition 2009-2014
Flemish Government - Peeters II 2009-2014
Party Name Function
CD&V Kris Peeters Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Foreign Policy, Agriculture and Rural Policy
SP.A Ingrid Lieten Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Innovation, Public Investment, Media and Poverty Reduction
N-VA Geert Bourgeois Vice minister-president of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Public Governance, Local and Provincial Government, Civic Integration, Tourism and the Brussels Periphery
CD&V Jo Vandeurzen Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family
CD&V Hilde Crevits Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works
SP.A Freya Van den Bossche Flemish Minister for Energy, Housing, Cities and Social Economy
N-VA Philippe Muyters Flemish Minister for Finance, Budget, Work, Town and Country Planning and Sport
CD&V Joke Schauvliege Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture
SP.A Pascal Smet Flemish Minister for Education, Youth, Equal Opportunities and Brussels Affairs

Leterme I/Peeters I (2004–2009)

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Government coalition 2007-2009
Government coalition 2004-2007

Following the 2004 election,   CD&V (29 seats)/  N-VA (6 seats),   sp.a/  Sociaal-Liberale Partij (25 seats) and   Open Vld (19 seats) parties formed a coalition.

  • From 19 July 2004 to 26 June 2007, the Minister-President of Flanders was Yves Leterme (CD&V), leading a coalition of CD&V-N-VA, VLD-Vivant, and SP.A-Vl.Pro.
  • On 26 June 2007, in the aftermath of the 2007 Belgian general elections, Yves Leterme and Inge Vervotte resigned as minister-president and minister in the Flemish Government to take their seats in the Belgian Parliament. On 28 June Kris Peeters was sworn in as new minister-president, taking over the responsibilities of Leterme, and Vanackere and Crevits replaced Vervotte and Peeters as Flemish ministers.
  • On 10 October 2007 Fientje Moerman resigned due to the fallout of a hiring scandal; she was replaced as vice-minister-president by Dirk Van Mechelen and as minister by Patricia Ceysens.
  • On 22 September 2008 Geert Bourgeois (N-VA) was forced to resign due to pressure by the SP.A-Vl.Pro and Open VLD coalition partners because of his party's no confidence vote in the federal government of Leterme and their lack of trust in further negotiations by the Regions regarding the state reform. His portfolios of Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism were taken over by minister-president Peeters.
  • On 30 December 2008 Steven Vanackere resigned to become federal Minister of Civil Service and Public Enterprises. He was replaced in the Flemish Government by Veerle Heeren.

The composition at the end of the legislature:

Peeters I Flemish Government (2007-2009)
Party Name Function
CD&V Kris Peeters Minister-President; Minister for Institutional Reform, Ports, Agriculture, Sea Fisheries and Rural Policy
SP.A Frank Vandenbroucke Vice-Minister-President; Minister for Work, Education and Training
VLD Dirk van Mechelen Vice-Minister-President; Minister for Finance and Budget and Town and Country Planning
SP.A Bert Anciaux Minister for Culture, Youth, Sport and Brussels Affairs
VLD Marino Keulen Minister for Home Affairs, Urban Policy, Housing and Civic Integration
SP.A Kathleen Van Brempt Minister for Mobility, Social Economy and Equal Opportunities
CD&V Hilde Crevits Minister for Public Works, Energy, the Environment and Nature
VLD Patricia Ceysens Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade
CD&V Veerle Heeren Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family


Dewael I (1999–2003)/Somers I (2003–2004)

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Government coalition 1999-2003
Government coalition 2003-2004

After the regional elections of 1999, a coalition of VLD, SP, Agalev and the VU was formed with Patrick Dewael (VLD) as Minister-President.

After the federal elections of June 2003, Patrick Dewael resigned as Minister-President and went to the federal political level. He was succeeded by Bart Somers as Flemish Minister-President until the end of term in 2004. Due to changes in political parties, the coalition was different:

Van den Brande IV (1995–1999)

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Government coalition 1995-1999

After the regional elections of 1995 (which were the first direct elections for the Flemish Parliament), a coalition of CVP and SP was formed.

Minister Name Party
Minister-President, Foreign Policy, European Affairs, Science and Technology Luc Van den Brande CVP
Vice-Minister-President, Education and Public Administration Luc Van den Bossche SP
Environment and Labour Theo Kelchtermans CVP
Finance, Budget and Health Policy Wivina Demeester CVP
Public Works, Transport and Spatial Planning Eddy Baldewijns SP
Economy, SME, Agriculture and Media Eric Van Rompuy CVP
Home Affairs, Urban Policy and Housing Leo Peeters SP
Culture, Family Policy and Welfare Luc Martens CVP
Brussels Affairs and Equal en Equal Opportunities Policy Anne Van Asbroeck SP

List of Flemish Minister-Presidents

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Main article: Minister-President of Flanders
Name Period Party Comments
Rika De Backer 1974 – 1981 CVP Only of Flemish Community
Gaston Geens 22 December 1981 – 21 January 1992 CVP
Luc Van den Brande 21 February 1992 – 1999 CVP
Patrick Dewael 13 July 1999 – 5 June 2003 VLD
Bart Somers 11 June 2003 – 20 July 2004 VLD
Yves Leterme 20 July 2004 – 28 June 2007 CD&V
Kris Peeters 28 June 2007 – 25 July 2014 CD&V
Geert Bourgeois 25 July 2014 – 2 July 2019 N-VA
Liesbeth Homans 2 July 2019 – 2 October 2019 N-VA
Jan Jambon 2 October 2019 – present N-VA

Administration

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The Flemish Government cabinet offices are located at the Martyrs' Square in Brussels

The Flemish administration (Dutch: Vlaamse overheid) denotes the Flemish civil service. With the 2006 reform program Better Administrative Policy (Dutch: Beter Bestuurlijk Beleid), the Flemish civil service is designed to make the Flemish public administration more efficient and transparent.

The tasks of the Flemish public administration are now organised in 13 policy areas. Each policy area comprises a department and a number of (semi-) independent government agencies. Only those with their own article are mentioned below.

The 11 policy areas are:

  1. Public Governance and the Chancellery (KB)
  2. Foreign Affairs (iV)
  3. Finance and Budget (FB)
  4. Education and Training (OV)
  5. Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI)
  6. Culture, Youth, Sport and Media (CJSM)
  7. Welfare, Public Health and Family (WVG)
  8. Agriculture and Fisheries (LV)
  9. Work and Social Economy (WSE)
  10. Mobility and Public Works (MOW)
  11. Environment (OMG)

Several other institutes, such as the Flemish Opera and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), were not incorporated into the above structure.

Every year, the Minister-President presents the current state of affairs in Flanders and the Government's plans for next year during the September Declaration on the fourth Monday in September.

Budget

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2018 Flemish budget

  Education (29.6%)
  Well-being, Health, Family (27.2%)
  Chancellery and Governance (8.9%)
  Employment and Social Economy (8.3%)
  Mobility and Public Works (8.2%)
  Other domains (17.8%)

The below figures use the 2018 budget as example, which had €44.7 billion in expenses and €42.3 billion in revenue.[1]

The revenue comes from the following sources:

  • 56% – Special financing law: the so-called "shared taxes" and "merged taxes" which the federal government raises through income taxes and VAT and partially transfers to the communities and regions based on a complex formula
  • 34% – Fiscal autonomy
    • 18% – Opcentiemen: additional "centimes" to the federal income tax (the height of which can be set by the Flemish Government)
    • 16% – Regional taxes (taxes under the proper authority of the Flemish Government), such as the traffic tax and inheritance tax
  • 10% – Other revenues

The expenses are as follows per policy area:

€13.2 billion Education and Training Mostly wages of education personnel
€12.1 billion Welfare, Public Health and Family E.g. child benefits
€3.96 billion Chancellery and Governance Mostly funds for local governments (provinces, cities and other municipalities)
€3.69 billion Work and Social Economy Mostly service vouchers
€3.67 billion Mobility and Public Works Mostly the public transportation company De Lijn and road infrastructure and road safety
€2.52 billion Finances and Budget Mostly financial incentives for private property
€2.04 billion Spatial E.g. management of immovable heritage and sustainable energy
€1.66 billion Economy, Science and Innovation Supporting entrepreneurship, scientific research and innovation
€1.29 billion Culture, Youth, Sports and Media Mostly the public broadcaster VRT and sports
€0.19 billion Agriculture and Fisheries Mostly the Agriculture Investment Fund
€0.17 billion international Flanders Tourism, international entrepreneurship, development aid and international relations
€0.13 billion Higher Entities Operating costs of the ministerial cabinets and the Flemish Parliament

Projects

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The Flemish Government owns the rights to Flanders Today, an English-speaking online and print newspaper focused on current affairs in Flanders and Brussels. The project was launched in 2007 by Geert Bourgeois – then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism -, for three main reasons:[2]

  • Facilitating the integration of expats living in the region by informing them of the region's current events.
  • Informing international journalists about the region, as most foreign correspondents based in Brussels get their news from the French-speaking press because the majority cannot read Dutch. Flanders Today would act as a counterweight to that side of every story.
  • Informing diplomats, investors, potential tourists and others outside of Belgium's borders about the region.

In May 2017, the Flemish Government announced it would not be rebidding the Flanders Today project. Both the print and the online version of the paper are to be shut down in October 2017.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "De Vlaamse begroting in cijfers". Flemish government. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  2. ^ "Save Flanders Today!". Save Flanders Today!. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  3. ^ "UPDATE: Flanders Today contract cancelled | Flanders Today". www.flanderstoday.eu. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
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