Executive branch:chief of state:
King ALBERT II (since NA August 1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet; the king appoints the ministers who are chosen by the
legislature
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
Senate:
(Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat); elections last held 24 November
1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (184 total; of which 106 are directly elected) CVP
20, SP 14, PVV (now VLD) 13, VU 5, AGALEV 5, VB 5, ROSSEN 1, PS 18,
PRL 9, PSC 9, ECOLO 6, FDF 1
Chamber of Representatives:
(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des
Representants); elections last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held
by November 1996); results - CVP 16.7%, PS 13.6%, SP 12.0%, PVV (now
VLD) 11.9%, PRL 8.2%, PSC 7.8%, VB 6.6%, VU 5.9%, ECOLO 5.1%, AGALEV
4.9%, FDF 2.6%, ROSSEM 3.2%, FN 1.5%; seats - (212 total) CVP 39, PS
35, SP 28, PVV (now VLD) 26, PRL 20, PSC 18, FB 12, VU 10, ECOLO 10,
AGALEV 7, FDF 3, ROSSEM 3, FN 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de
Cassation)
Political parties and leaders:
Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Johan van HECKE, president;
Francophone Social Christian (PSC), Melchior WATHELET, president;
Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Francophone
Socialist (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN; Flemish Liberals and Democrats
(VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Francophone Liberal (PRL), Jean
GOL, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT,
president; Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president; Communist Party
(PCB), Louis VAN GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN,
chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Werner
van STEEN; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone
Ecologists), no president; other minor parties
Other political or pressure groups:
Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian
Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers,
manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical
professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of
Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action
Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi
Member of:
AG (observer), ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australian Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC,
CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO,
MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTAC, UNTSO,
UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Juan CASSIERS
chancery:
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 333–6900
FAX:
(202) 333–3079
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
embassy:
27 Boulevard du Regent, Brussels
mailing address:
B-1000 Brussels, APO AE 09724
telephone:
[32] (2) 513–3830
FAX:
[32] (2) 511–2725
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the
design was based on the flag of France
@Belgium, Economy
Overview:
This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central
geographic location, highly developed transport network, and
diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated
mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the
government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of
Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import substantial
quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures,
making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets.
Three fourths of its trade is with other EC countries. The economy
