| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament / Federal Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
4 December 1894
Last amendment: 2010 |
| Mode of designation |
directly elected 40
other 31 |
| Constituencies |
3 multi member (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Hal-Vilvorde) and 2 electoral colleges (French and Dutch). |
| Voting system |
Proportional:
Party list system.
Each party submits two lists: one for Flanders and the other for Wallonia. Residents in the Brussels region chose from one of the two lists.
Seats are distributed according to the d'Hondt method for directly elected Senators. Vote-splitting is not provided for, but preferential voting with respect to the same list is possible.
Community Senators are designated by their respective parliament from among its members. Co-opted Senators are elected by the other two categories.
Seats are allocated according to the d'Hondt method to Community and co-opted Senators on the basis of the outcome of polling for those directly elected except for the Senator from the German-speaking community, who is chosen by majority vote by the Parliament of the German speaking Community.
Vacancies for directly elected senators arising between general elections are filled by substitutes chosen at the same time as titular members in the case of directly elected Senators. Vacant seats for Community or co-opted Senators are filled by new designations.
Voting is compulsory; any unjustified abstention is punishable, with penalties ranging from a fine to removal from the electoral register. |
| Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years or over
- Belgian citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights |
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
- qualified electors
- age: 21 years or over
- Belgian citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights
- residence in Belgium |
| Incompatibilities |
- Ministers of the Federal Government or the governments of communities or regions
- Membership of the House of Representatives or of a community or regional parliament (except for Community Senators)
|
| Candidacy requirements |
For directly elected Senators: supporting signature of at least 5,000 electors or two outgoing members of Parliament
For other senators: by special procedures. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
