Belgia

Abstract

The process of formation of local authorities in Belgium in the last decades is connected with the four-stage reform that has been realized from early 1970s. In this time, Belgium has transformed its centralized, unitarian political system into a federation, uniting regions and language communities. It was an effect of ethnic disagreement between Flemings and Walloons, not only conflicted on the state level, but on the level of local communities and provinces as well. An opinion is held that it might lead to the disintegration of the federation. What role are the local autonomies going to play in these circumstances? They hold great power, mainly on the level of local communities. The mayor and the community council have the power comparable to average European standards, although the conflicts between language communities are still present. In 2008, an intervention of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe took place; a warning was issued against violation of democratic rules. The provinces, the higher level of state administration, play a less important role in local autonomies. They rather reflect historical events, and during the process of formation of the federation have gained additional and – according to some opinions –unnecessary meaning. The most popular critical opinions about the present system concern the issue of an increasing influence of political parties on the local level. It discourages voluntary social activists, devoted to the local issues. As a result of the growing role of professionalism and bureaucracy in democracy, the gap between decision-makers and local communities has been increasing.