constitution
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has not yet succeeded in reaching an agreement on the constitutional articles that would be subject to revision. — © belga
Ecolo and Groen also want Article 7bis of the constitution to be declared open to revision in order to create additional leverage for a robust climate policy.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) failed in his government to reach an agreement on the constitutional articles that are declared subject to revision. Only those articles can be amended by a two-thirds majority after an election. By Monday, a working group of the various cabinets will consider three packages of constitutional articles that the government would like to open. It is expected that Vivaldi will be able to close the matter during a core meeting on Monday.
The first package contains the five articles that the De Croo government had already put on a provisional list in 2021. This includes the famous Article 195, which is considered a passe-partout for amending the entire constitution in a roundabout way and which therefore makes state reform possible. Furthermore, that list included two articles that changed the appeal procedure for credentials – documents that demonstrate that someone meets the conditions to be a representative of the people. In addition, two articles that should make it possible to introduce a mechanism for faster government formation.
The Greens also want to add Article 7bis of the Constitution to that list. It states: “In exercising their respective powers, the Federal State, the communities and the Regions pursue the objectives of sustainable development in its social, economic and environmental aspects, taking into account solidarity between generations.” The coalition agreement already stated that the article “would be modernized during this administrative period with attention to the just transition to a climate-neutral society, the circular economy and the halt to biodiversity loss.” In this way, the Greens want to create additional leverage to implement a stronger climate policy, for example through a climate law. The coalition agreement already stated that the article would be put back on the list if “an update during this period of government proved impossible”.
The second package of articles includes fundamental rights. For example, Open VLD believes that the right to self-determination should be included in the constitution. The third package contains the constitutional articles that should make the abolition of the Senate possible.
As soon as the government reaches an agreement on the articles, the debate can also start in the House and Senate. The meeting of the Commission for Revision of the Constitution has already been canceled twice. The common denominator of the constitutional articles that the government, House and Senate wish to declare open to revision can be adjusted in a subsequent administrative period by a two-thirds majority.(CV)
