Belgian Regions

Belgian Regions and Communities

Note: In the 1970's Belgium was divided in three regions (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia) and three communities (Flemish, French, German). On 8 Aug 1980 the Flemish and Walloon regions and the Flemish and French communities were granted autonomy. On 22 Dec 1981 separate governments were constituted for the Flemish and Walloon regions and for the French community, the government of the Flemish community being entrusted to the government of the Flemish region. The German community was granted autonomy on 31 Dec 1983, and the Brussels region on 12 Jan 1989. Brussels-Capital is the only of the three regions to have a governor (since 1 Jan 1995), representing the King and the central government.

Party abbreviations: CDH = Centre Démocrate Humaniste (Democratic Humanist Center, in Wallonia, to 2002 PSC); CD&V = Christen-Democratisch & Vlaams (Christian-Democratic and Flemish, in Flanders, to 2001 CVP); FN-NF = National Front (Wallonia and Brussels); FNB = New Front of Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels); MR = Mouvement Réformateur (Reformist Movement, union of PFF, FDF, PRL, and MCC); NVA = New Flemish Alliance; PS = Parti Socialiste (Francophone Socialist Party, social-democratic -Wallonia and Brussels); RWF = Rally Wallonia-France; SP.A = Socialistische Partij-Anders (Socialist Party Another Way, Flanders, called SP to 2001); VBl = Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest, Flemish nationalist, separatist, former VB); VLD = Vlaamse Liberale Democraten - Partij van de Burger (Liberals and Democrats - Citizen's Party, conservative liberal, Flanders, to 1992 PVV); VP =Vlaamse Progressieven (Flemish Progressists, social-liberal, Flemish, until Apr 2008 named Spirit);
- Former parties:BSP-PSB = Parti Socialiste Belge-Belgische Socialistische Partij (Belgian Socialist Party, 1944-78, divided into PS and SP); CVP = Christelijke Volkspartij (Christian People's Party, Flemish, christian-democratic -Flanders, renamed to CD & V in 2001);
CVP-PSC = Christelijke Volkspartij-Parti Social-chrétien (Christian People's Party-Social Christian Party, divided 1968 in CVP and PSC); FDF = Front Démocratique des Francophones (Democratic Front of Francophones, Brussels regionalist, from 2002 part of MR); PFF = Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt (Party for Freedom and Progress, German, from 2002 part of MR);
PRL = Parti Péformateur Libéral (Liberal Reform Party, 1979; Wallonia and Brussels, from 2002 part of MR; dissolved May 2003); PRLW = Parti des Réformes et de la Liberté de Wallonie (Reforms and Freedom Party for Wallonia, merger of PLP and part of RW in 1976, became PRL on merger with PL, Wallonia and Brussels); PSC = Parti Social-chrétien (Social Christian Party, center-right, in Wallonia and Brussels, 1968-2002, renamed CDH); PVV-PLP = Party for Freedom and Progress (LP-PL to 1961, divided 1972 in PVV -Flanders and Brussels);Spirit = Social, Progressive, International, Regionalist, Integral-Democratic, Turned to the Future (social-liberal, Flemish, left-wing faction of VU,2001-2008 renamed VP); SP = Socialistische Partij (Flemish Socialist Party, social-democratic -Flanders, renamed to SP.A in 2001);
VB = Vlaams Blok (Flemish Bloc, Flemish nationalist, separatist, banned 13 Nov 2004 then VBl);
VLD = Vlaamse Liberale Democraten - Partij van de Burger (Liberals and Democrats - Citizen's Party, conservative liberal, Flanders, to 1992 PVV, banned 13 Nov 2004 then VBl);
VU = Volksunie-Vlaamse Vrije Democraten (People's Union-Flemish Free Democrats, center-left, autonomists, Flanders, 1954-2001)

Brussels-Capital

Adopted 16 May 1991

Governors
1 Jan 1995 - 30 Apr 1998 André Degroeve                     (b. 1931)            PS
May 1998 - 13 Nov 1998     Raymonde Dury (f)                  (b. 1947)            PS
22 Dec 1998 -              Véronique Paulus de Châtelet (f)   (b. 1948)            PS

Minister-presidents
12 Jul 1989 - 15 Jul 1999 Charles Picqué (1st time)          (b. 1948)            PS
15 Jul 1999 - 18 Oct 2000 Jacques Simonet (1st time)         (b. 1963 - d. 2007) PRL
18 Oct 2000 - 6 Jun 2003 François-Xavier de Donnéa          (b. 1941)            PRL
6 Jun 2003 - 18 Feb 2004 Daniel Ducarme                     (b. 1954)            PRL/MR
18 Feb 2004 - 19 Jul 2004 Jacques Simonet (2nd time)         (s.a.)              PRL: 2003 MR
19 Jul 2004 -              Charles Picqué (2nd time)          (s.a.)               PS

Flanders and the Flemish Community

Adopted 11 Jul 1985

Hear Flemish Anthem "De Vlaamse Leeuw" (The Flemish Lion)	Text of Anthem Adopted 13 Apr 1988
International Organizations: UNWTO (associate)

22 Dec 1917 - 25 Jul 1918 The Council of Flanders proclaims independence
(Independent State of Flanders)(see under Belgium).

Minister-presidents
22 Dec 1981 - 21 Jan 1992 Gaston Geens                       (b. 1931 - d. 2002) CVP
21 Jan 1992 - 13 Jul 1999 Luc Van den Brande                 (b. 1945)             CVP
13 Jul 1999 - 5 Jun 2003 Patrick Dewael                     (b. 1955)             VLD
5 Jun 2003 - 11 Jun 2003 Renaat Landuyt (acting)            (b. 1959)             SP.A
11 Jun 2003 - 20 Jul 2004 Bart Somers                        (b. 1964)             VLD
20 Jul 2004 - 28 Jun 2007 Yves Leterme                       (b. 1960)             CD&V
28 Jun 2007 -    Kris Peeters (b. 1962)    CD&V

French Community

Adopted by French Community 3 Jul 1991

International Organizations: OIF

Minister-presidents 22 Dec 1981 - 9 Dec 1985 Philippe Moureaux (1st time) (b. 1939) PS 9 Dec 1985 - 2 Feb 1988 Philippe Monfils (b. 1939) PRL 2 Feb 1988 - 9 May 1988 Philippe Moureaux (2nd time) (s.a.) PS17 May 1988 - 7 Jan 1992 Valmy Féaux (b. 1933) PS 7 Jan 1992 - 4 May 1993 Bernard Anselme (b. 1945) PS 4 May 1993 - 13 Jul 1999 Laurette Onkelinx (f) (b. 1958) PS13 Jul 1999 - 19 Jul 2004 Hervé Hasquin (b. 1942) PRL: 2003 MR 19 Jul 2004 - 20 Mar 2008 Marie Arena (f) (b. 1966) PS20 Mar 2008 - Rudy Demotte (b. 1963) PS

German Community

Adopted 1 Oct 1990

Minister-presidents
30 Jan 1984 - 11 Nov 1986 Bruno Fagnoul                      (b. 1936)            PFF
11 Nov 1986 - 6 Jul 1999 Joseph Maraite                     (b. 1949)            PSC
6 Jul 1999 -              Karl-Heinz Lambertz                (b. 1952)            SP/SP.A

Wallonia

Adopted by Walloon Region 23 Jul 1998

Hear Walloon Anthem
"Li Chant des Wallons"
(Song of the Walloons)

Text of Anthem
Adopted 1998

Minister-presidents
22 Dec 1981 - 26 Jan 1982 Jean-Maurice Dehousse (1st time)   (b. 1936)            PS
26 Jan 1982 - 25 Oct 1982 André Damseaux                     (b. 1937 - d. 2007) PRL
25 Oct 1982 - 11 Dec 1985 Jean-Maurice Dehousse (2nd time)   (s.a.)               PS
11 Dec 1985 - 3 Feb 1988 Melchior Wathelet                  (b. 1949)            PSC
3 Feb 1988 - 9 May 1988 Guy Coëme                          (b. 1946)            PS
11 May 1988 - 7 Jan 1992 Bernard Anselme                    (b. 1945)            PS
7 Jan 1992 - 25 Jan 1994 Guy Spitaels                       (b. 1931)            PS
25 Jan 1994 - 15 Jul 1999 Robert Collignon                   (b. 1943)            PS
15 Jul 1999 - 4 Apr 2000 Elio Di Rupo (1st time)            (b. 1951)            PS
4 Apr 2000 - 30 Sep 2005 Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe       (b. 1944)            PS
30 Sep 2005 - 6 Oct 2005 André Antoine (acting)             (b. 1960)            CDH
6 Oct 2005 - 20 Jul 2007 Elio Di Rupo (2nd time)            (s.a.)               PS
20 Jul 2007 - Rudy Demotte (b. 1963)    PS