Contribution to the formation of governments

After a new House of Representatives has been elected, she consults:

• the vice-president of the Council of State;
• the presidents of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
• the party leaders in the newly elected House of Representatives;
• (sometimes) the Ministers of State.

Acting on their advice the Queen appoints one or more senior political figures (informateurs) to investigate the possibilities of forming a new government with adequate support in the Lower House. As soon as it is clear that the coalition partners are genuinely willing to work together, the Queen appoints a formateur with instructions to form a government. If he succeeds, the Queen signs the Royal Decrees accepting the outgoing governments resignation and appointing the new team. The Queen then swears in the new ministers and state secretaries.

For more information, go to the site of the ministry of General Affairs