Belgian Senate Abolition Advances as Committee OKs Reform

Belgium’s long-discussed abolition of the Senate has taken another significant step forward. The Chamber’s Constitutional Committee (Kamercommissie Grondwet) gave the green light on Wednesday to amend Article 195 of the Belgian Constitution, a procedural move essential to dismantling the country’s upper house of parliament. This marks the third of eight steps in the formal process and the first time the federal parliament has voted directly on the text, according to VRT NWS.

Context: A Long Road to Unicameralism

Established in 1831 as a conservative “chamber of reflection,” the Belgian Senate has undergone multiple reforms over nearly two centuries. The Sixth State Reform (2012–2014) drastically reduced its powers, transforming it from a directly elected body into a chamber representing Belgium’s federated entities — the communities and regions. Proponents of abolition argue that the Senate has become redundant, with the Chamber of Representatives now handling the vast majority of legislative work.

The current push for abolition stems from an agreement reached in June 2025 by the federal government — the Arizona coalition comprising N-VA, Vooruit, CD&V, MR, and Les Engagés. The process requires amending Article 195 of the Constitution, which governs constitutional revision procedures, through a carefully prescribed multi-step sequence.

Key Developments: Step 3 of 8

The Constitutional Committee’s approval on June 17 follows earlier milestones. The Senate’s Committee on Institutional Affairs first approved the revision on March 30, 2026, as Business AM reported. The plenary Senate then followed suit on April 3, approving the revision with 36 votes in favor, 8 against, and 14 abstentions.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the committee’s green light was described as a necessary step to abolish the Senate “in a clean manner.” The proposal will now advance to the plenary Chamber of Representatives, where a much higher hurdle awaits: a two-thirds majority will be required for final approval.

The German-Speaking Community Sticking Point

A persistent obstacle to the reform is the representation of Belgium’s German-speaking Community (Duitstalige Gemeenschap), home to approximately 77,000 citizens in eastern Belgium. Under the current Senate structure, the community holds one guaranteed senator. Abolition would eliminate this guaranteed federal representation entirely.

The German-speaking Community is demanding a guaranteed seat in the Chamber of Representatives as an alternative, but no solution has been reached. Premier Bart De Wever (N-VA) has acknowledged these concerns and committed to finding a resolution before the process concludes, stating that resolving the community’s representation remains a priority.

Political Dynamics and the Two-Thirds Challenge

The April 3 Senate vote revealed the complex political landscape surrounding the reform. Votes in favor came from N-VA, Vooruit, CD&V, Vlaams Belang, Eva Platteau (Groen), and four members of Les Engagés. The PS voted against, joined by Liese Scholzen (MR), Celia Groothedde (Groen), and Hajib El Hajjaji (Ecolo). The MR abstained, as did PVDA-PTB and Anne-Catherine Goffinet (Les Engagés), as BRUZZ detailed.

The MR’s abstention caused particular tension. The Arizona coalition parties do not hold a two-thirds majority on their own, and the government agreement prohibits forming majorities with far-left (PVDA-PTB) or far-right (Vlaams Belang) parties. This creates a political dilemma: while Vlaams Belang supported the measure in the Senate vote, relying on their support in the Chamber could fracture coalition unity.

Analysis and Implications

The abolition of the Senate would represent the most significant institutional reform in Belgium since the Sixth State Reform over a decade ago. It would transform Belgium’s federal parliamentary structure from a bicameral system to a unicameral one at the federal level, though regional parliaments in Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels, and the German-speaking Community would remain intact.

Several outstanding questions remain. Can the government secure a two-thirds majority in the plenary Chamber without relying on Vlaams Belang or PVDA-PTB? Will the MR ultimately support or oppose the reform? And perhaps most critically, can a satisfactory solution be found for the German-speaking Community’s representation before the next vote?

What’s Next

The proposal now heads to the plenary Chamber of Representatives for a vote requiring a two-thirds majority. This represents the next major test for the reform. If successful, the process would continue through the remaining steps toward full abolition. The timeline for the remaining stages remains uncertain, but the Constitutional Committee’s green light has brought Belgium measurably closer to ending its Senate’s 195-year history.