Parliamentary inquiries by the Belgian Federal Parliament
Encyclopedia
Both Chambers of the Federal Parliament
, the Senate
and the Chamber of Representatives, have the right to conduct parliamentary inquiries pursuant to article 56 of the Belgian Constitution
, which provides that "Each Chamber has the right of inquiry". Committees of inquiry were rarely set up until 20 years ago, and have been used increasingly in the recent past, dealing with matters deemed of major public concern or apparent governmental failure.
, as set down in the law passed March 30, 1935 and the Royal Decree of March 31, 1935.
, the RTB
, and cable television.
, and related companies.
.
and their likes".
. Cools was a Belgian socialist politician who was assassinated at Liège in 1991.
".
The Belgian branch
of Operation Gladio was a secret military unit trained to form a resistance movement in the event of an communist
invasion by the Soviet Union
. Its existence became publicly known on November 14, 1990, when Defense minister Guy Coëme
announced its existence in Belgium, following Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti
's revelations concerning the Italian branch of Gladio.
Because questions and allegations where raised regarding its functioning and oversight, and possible connections between Gladio-operatives and criminal and terroristic activities in Belgium during the previous decade, a parliamentary inquiry was initiated.
Belgian Federal Parliament
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate . It sits in the Palace of the Nation .- Chamber of Representatives :...
, the Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
and the Chamber of Representatives, have the right to conduct parliamentary inquiries pursuant to article 56 of the Belgian Constitution
Constitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
, which provides that "Each Chamber has the right of inquiry". Committees of inquiry were rarely set up until 20 years ago, and have been used increasingly in the recent past, dealing with matters deemed of major public concern or apparent governmental failure.
1880: Education reform and legislation
May 5, 1880: Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning the moral and material situation of Belgium's primary education system, the results of the law of July 1, 1879, and the means used to inhibit implementation of this law.1909: Draft legislation
March 10, 1909: Parliamentary inquiry in order to resolve the outcomes of the law of May 21 1902 (a change in the militia law and the law on compensation for drafted men).1935: Monetary devaluation
April 17, 1935: Parliamentary inquiry to determine the responsibilities in the devaluation of the Belgian francBelgian franc
The franc was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. It was subdivided into centimes , 100 centiem or Centime .-History:...
, as set down in the law passed March 30, 1935 and the Royal Decree of March 31, 1935.
1959: Leopoldstad
January 15, 1959: Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning the riots that took place in Leopoldstad in January 1959.1972: Publicity on state-run television networks
June 18, 1972: Parliamentary inquiry commission on the direct or indirect addition of commercial texts or imagery in the broadcasts of the BRTVlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
, the RTB
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
, and cable television.
1985: Handling of "Heizel-drama"
June 6, 1985: Parliamentary inquiry commission to the causes, the circumstances, and the lessons that should be drawn from the tragic events that took place on May 29, 1985, during the football match between Liverpool and Juventus Turin.1987: Arms sales to embargoed countries
April 9, 1987: Parliamentary inquiry commission for research on the Belgian arms and munition sales to countries in armed conflicts, or against which a weapons embargo is in place.1988: Fraud and non-proliferation treaty breaches
March 17, 1988: Parliamentary inquiry commission for the study of the range, the causes, and the results of possible fraud and of possible violations of the Non-Proliferation treaty by the Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie (SCK)SCK•CEN
SCK•CEN is the Belgian nuclear research centre located in Mol, Belgium. SCK•CEN is active in various areas of research and services in the nuclear sector.-Organisation profile:...
, and related companies.
1988: Handling of major crime and terrorism
April 21, 1988: Parliamentary inquiry commission to research methods of opposing banditry and terrorism.1988: Arms sales to embargoed countries
June 16, 1988: Parliamentary inquiry commission for research into Belgian arms and munition sales to countries in armed conflicts, or against which a weapons embargo has been declared.1992: Human trafficking
November 26, 1992: Parliamentary enquiry commission to research a structural policy concerning punishment for and eradication of human trafficking.1992: Waste transport
March 5, 1992: Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning import, export, and transport of industrial and domestic waste substances.1993: Military purchases
June 17, 1993: Parliamentary inquiry commission to invesigate army purchases.1995: Handling of the Nijvel gang case
June 13, 1995: Parliamentary inquiry commission to look into the necessary adjustments in the organisation and workings of the police and justice system, based on the difficulties that arose during the attacks of the Nijvel gangNijvel gang
The Nijvel gang or the Brabant killers is a group or groups thought to be responsible for the "Brabant massacres", a series of violent attacks that occurred mostly in the province of Brabant in Belgium...
.
1996: Policy regarding sects
March 6, 1996: Parliamentary inquiry commission on the formation of policy to combat illegal practices of sects, to reduce the danger to society and to minors in particular.1996: Handling of the Dutroux/Nihoul case
October 17, 1996: Parliamentary inquiry commission to research the way the inquiries were conducted by the police and the court in the case "Dutroux-NihoulMarc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux is a Belgian serial killer and child molester, convicted of having kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused six girls during 1995 and 1996, ranging in age from 8 to 19, four of whom he murdered. He was also convicted of having killed a suspected former accomplice, Bernard Weinstein,...
and their likes".
1996: Murder of André Cools
October 24, 1996: Parliamentary inquiry commission to research the murder of André CoolsAndré Cools
André H.P. Cools was a Belgian socialist politician who died by assassination.-Political career:Cools had a long and distinguished political career...
. Cools was a Belgian socialist politician who was assassinated at Liège in 1991.
1951: Tax collection
March 1, 1951: Parliamentary inquiry commission on the activities of the service of the Sequester.1980: Militia activity
June 19, 1980: Parliamentary inquiry commission concerning the problems related to private militias and keeping order.1987: Arms sales to embargoed countries
April 7, 1987: Parliamentary enquiry commission to research the circumstances in which Belgium would have been involved in trade and trafficking of weapons and munition, either directly or indirectly, to countries the government has decided to place under embargo.1988: Nuclear security
March 23, 1988: Parliamentary inquiry commission to research and evaluate the guidelines regarding to nuclear secutrity, the measures taken for education and protection of the population, and the means of evacuation in case of elevated radioactivity within the country's territories.1990: Gladio network
December 20, 1990: Parliamentary inquiry commission to research the discovery of the existence of a secret international intelligence network in Belgium under the name of "GladioOperation Gladio
Operation Gladio is the codename for a clandestine NATO "stay-behind" operation in Italy after World War II. Its purpose was to continue anti-communist actions in the event of a shift to a Communist party led government...
".
The Belgian branch
Belgian stay-behind network
The Belgian stay-behind network, colloquially called "Gladio" was a secret mixed civilian and military unit, trained to form a resistance movement in the event of a Soviet invasion and part of a network of similar organizations in NATO-countries...
of Operation Gladio was a secret military unit trained to form a resistance movement in the event of an communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
invasion by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Its existence became publicly known on November 14, 1990, when Defense minister Guy Coëme
Guy Coëme
Guy Coëme is a Francophone Belgian politician for the Socialist Party .Coëme served as minister of defence in the government Martens VIII and IX. In the first cabinet Dehaene, he was promoted to deputy prime minister and served as minister of transport...
announced its existence in Belgium, following Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti is an Italian politician of the now dissolved centrist Christian Democracy party. He served as the 42nd Prime Minister of Italy from 1972 to 1973, from 1976 to 1979 and from 1989 to 1992. He also served as Minister of the Interior , Defense Minister and Foreign Minister and he...
's revelations concerning the Italian branch of Gladio.
Because questions and allegations where raised regarding its functioning and oversight, and possible connections between Gladio-operatives and criminal and terroristic activities in Belgium during the previous decade, a parliamentary inquiry was initiated.