Which Senate? A speech in the Chambers of Deputies, by Count Alexandre de Lannoy, Minister of Interior
The latest announcement of Prime Minister Wolff about a possible senatorial reform has filled me with wonder – which Senate and which state do we actually want?
The current upperhouse was created after the constitutional convention and endorsed the spirit of compromise that was typical for this meeting. It consists of nonpartisan members, appointed both by our King and our Prime Minister, with the right of both to review each other’s appointments, in order to guarantee their acceptable and apolitical nature.
This practice has taken place during three consequent reigns. We had a moderately conservative King Prosper-Louis, we had King August, whose sympathies were largely in the left, now we have a regency. But I must note one interesting thing – the composition and actions of the Senate during this time were, in many ways, the same.
The composition? During all these times people who were appointed to the Senate came from all classes of society, and were respectable ex-statesmen, judges, generals, academics, diplomats, known for their service to the country. They brought the parliament their great professional experience and understanding of practical matters often lacking in the lower house. They made the Senate a nonpartisan technocratic body that managed to balance the populist-orientated Chamber of Deputies and check whether its ideas can be practically implemented.
The actions? During all these times our Senate did what was good for the country. We must remember that the Senate never denied the people useful reforms like the Non-Secret Ballots or D'Hondt Method, always demonstrating very enlightened views. At the same time, when the proposals of the lower house were unimplementable, due to financial or other practical reasons (like the recently discussed education clause), the Senate always did its duty and warned the lowerhouse about this fact.
Now, due to the yells from the left, some people think that this Senate should be replaced with an elected one.
I want to ask all Belgian patriots – which Senate do we want? A technocratic nonpartisan body, able to check the actions of the lowerhouse and guarantee a harmonious legislative process and being an integral part of the great system of checks and balances? Or just another playground for political parties, full of their biases and partisanship, mirroring the chamber of deputies? Why do we need it at all then?
I also want to ask all Conservatives and monarchists – would we want to see the Royal Prerogative in dust? During the constitutional convention the right of our head of state to appoint senators was one of crucial points for us. Would we agree to rob the Crown of this power, denying it the ability to serve the nation here? We supported our respectable liberal colleagues several years ago, when they reformed the lowerhouse – but betraying our royalist ideology would have been way too much. I believe that all good conservatives should oppose this idea.
I would humbly ask the Prime Minister to reconsider his stance on senatorial reform - and would like to ask you all once again.
Which Senate do we want? A Senate of impartiality and professionalism – or Senate of partisanship and partycracy? Which Senate?
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