Belgium
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- February 7, 1831; revised on July 14, 1993 to create a federal state; amended several times, last in 2019
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law system based on the French civil code; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as compulsory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral Parliament, Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French) and Chamber of Representatives (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (composed of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, tax, and military; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a president and 5-6 judges); Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit matters; magistrate courts; justices of the peace
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, non-believer/agnostic 20.2% (estimate 2018)
From the country
- MAY 12, 2000BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Flanders Liberal Party deputy Hugo Coveliers said that...
Flanders Liberal Party deputy Hugo Coveliers said that Fehriye Erdal, 23, a woman wanted for the alleged killing of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996, should be extradited to Turkey
- APRIL 26, 2000BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty...
Belgium cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- MARCH 1, 2000BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said he is determined...
Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said he is determined to take action against suspected Rwandan genocide suspects but will not extradite them because Rwanda continues to impose the death penalty
- DECEMBER 1, 1999BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
In December, according to Cumhuriyet, the Public Prosecutor's...
In December, according to Cumhuriyet, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul has officially requested the extradition of Yalcin Ozbey, one of the key figures in the Abdi Ipekci murder, from Belgium
- DECEMBER 1, 1999BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
In December, according to Cumhuriyet, the Public Prosecutor's...
In December, according to Cumhuriyet, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul has officially requested the extradition of Yalcin Ozbey, one of the key figures in the Abdi Ipekci murder, from Belgium
- APRIL 28, 1999BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Belgium was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28 (1999/61)
- DECEMBER 10, 1998BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, 1998, Belgium ratified Protocol No
On December 10, 1998, Belgium ratified Protocol No