At stake in this election:

• 150 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: King ALBERT II
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT
• Assembly: Belgium has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (Senaat / Senat) with 71 seats and the Chamber of Deputies (Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants) with 150 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The King is hereditary.
• In the Senate (Senaat / Senat), 40 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms and 31 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 4-year terms. In the Chamber of Deputies (Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Representants) 150 members are elected by popular vote via proportional representation to serve 4-year terms.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Flemish Liberal Democrats (VLD)
  • Leader: Karel DE GUCHT
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 25
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 23
• Party: Christian Democrats and Flemish (CD&V)*
  • Leader: Stefaan DE CLERCK
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 21
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 22
• Party: Socialist Party - Walloon (PS)
  • Leader: Elio DI RUPO
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 25
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 19
• Party: Reform Movement (MR)*
  • Leader: Daniel DUCARME
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 24
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 18
• Party: Social Progressive Alternative Party (SPA)**
  • Leader: Steve STEVAERT
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 23
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 14
• Bloc: Flemish Block (VL-BLOK)
  • Leader: Frank VANHECKE
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 18
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 15
• Party: Democratic and Humanist Center (CDH)***
  • Leader: Joelle MILQUET
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 8
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 10
• Party: The Greens/Ecologist (Francophone) (ECOLO)
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 4
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 11
• Party: New Flemish Alliance (N-VA)
  • Leader: Geert BOURGEOIS
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 1
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 0
• Party: Ecologist (Flemish) (AGALEV)
  • Leader: Jos GEYSELS
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 0
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: 9
• Party: VIVANT
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: N/A
  • Seats won in last Chamber of Deputies election: N/A
• Other Parties
  • Seats won in this Chamber of Deputies election: 0

* Formerly the Flemish Christian People's Party.

** Also translated as "Socialist Party Different". Formed an electoral coalition with the Spirit Party.

** Formerly the Christian Social Party.

Last parliamentary election:

• The last election to the Chamber of Deputies was held on June 13, 1999.

Population and voter registration:

• Population: 10,318,000 (2003 est.)
• Registered Voters: 7,570,637 (2003)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 5,299,665 (2003)

·         Is Belgium a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Belgium ratified CEDAW: Yes (10 July 1985)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 53 (Chamber of Representatives); 22 (Senate) (following 2003 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 21 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Belgium a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Belgium ratified CRPD: Yes (2 July 2009)

·         Population with a disability: 1,547,700 (est.)