Belgium

House of RepresentativesSenate

House of Representatives

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
When the election results are declared
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Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
On the day of new elections
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Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
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Authority that designates the Speaker When the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State The Speaker often has a very high rank in the protocollary hierarchy of the State.
Notes
The President of the Chamber of Representatives and that of the Senate occupy the third or fourth rank, alternately, at each annual parliamentary session.
Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity In some countries, the Speaker acts as interim Head of State when required by the circumstances, such as death or incapacity.
No
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures The mandate of the Speaker may continue until their successor is elected, even after the dissolution of parliament/chamber.
No
Speaker terms
The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house The term of the Speaker may be different from the term of the House (legislature).
Yes
Speaker's term The term may be shorter than one year.
1 Year
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Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
Yes, except for flagrant delicto
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Notes
except when caught in the act, members may be taken or brought directly before a court or arrested for a punishable act only with the authorization of the chamber. such authorization is not required in the case of administrative arrest (custody of 12 hours maximum in order to prevent an offence or maintain law and order).
There is a Code of conduct for members

Salaries and allowances

Basic salary
97,944 (2022)
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Basic allowances
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Names of the basic allowances
The parliamentary allowance shall be reduced in the case a member receives remuneration for the exercise of a public office or function outside of parliament that exceeds half of the parliamentary allowance. In the case of members combining their parliamentary mandate with the mandate of mayor, alderman or president of a council of welfare, the salary of the latter will be reduced accordingly, instead of the parliamentary allowance.
Additionally, members of the House benefit from free public transport. And, an allowance for travel cost by car on a lump-sum basis (120 roundtrips) can be granted, but only for travelling to and from the House of Representatives.
Members pay income tax on salaries Salaries and/or allowances may be subject to income tax or equivalent.
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances Salaries and/or allowances may be subject to income tax or equivalent.
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament Certain parliaments allow MPs to exercise other remunerated employment outside parliament.
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament In certain countries, MPs exercising other employment may be required to declare their income.
Yes
Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian The personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian is different from parliamentary staff work for the secretariat of Parliament.
Office at parliament
Constituency office Certain countries provide for an office at constituency if it’s different from a seat of parliament, which is often in the capital. The office at constituency is applicable mainly to the countries using the Plurality/Majority system of elections.
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work The common in-kind allowances for constituency work include those for travel, overnight stay, etc.
Yes
Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker yes yes
Committee Chair yes yes
Other leadership positions that receive additional salaries or allowances Some parliaments provides for additional salaries or allowances to the Deputy Speaker/Vice President, heads of parliamentary groups, etc.
Vice-Presidents, members of the Bureau, members of the Governance Committee, and Presidents of the political groups
Parliament determines the amount of salaries Some parliaments determine the amount of salaries of MPs. The amount may be set by other institution than parliament.
Yes
Name of the body (or bodies) in parliament which determines the amount
The Bureau
Parliament determines the amount of allowances Some parliaments determine the amount of allowances of MPs. The amount may be set by other institution than parliament.
Yes
Name of the body (or bodies) in parliament which determines the amount
The Bureau
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale In some countries, the amount of parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale, such as civil service salary scale, ministerial salary or the minimum wage of the country.
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries: Civil service salary scale; Ministerial salary; Minimum wage; Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
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The data valid for the year
2020
Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website Certain parliaments publish the information on MPs’ salaries and allowances on parliamentary website. The amount of information may vary from one parliament to the other.
Information on salaries, allowances and the amount of allowances received by each member is available on the parliamentary website.
Amount of allowances received by each member
Yes

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament Members of the government must also be members of parliament: Must be a member of parliament; Cannot be a member of parliament; Can be a member of parliament; Other
Cannot be a member of parliament
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