Gender and the Monarchy in Belgium: Succession, and the exercise of Constitutional and Symbolic Power

Abstract

This paper explores the gender dimensions of the Belgian monarchy by focusing on three distinct topics. First, the paper addresses the matter of access to the throne. In Belgium, the historical exclusion of women from the monarchy came to an end in 1991, but the first female monarch has yet to ascend to the throne. Next, the paper zooms in on the gender dimensions of the way in which Belgium’s recent monarchs have exercised their role. As the King’s political role is limited, this paper includes also the symbolic role of the King, which carries over to his private and family life. As it happens, after the crisis known as the ‘royal issue’ in the early 1950s, there has been only one constitutional crisis in Belgium that directly involved the monarchy: King Baldwin’s refusal to sign the law legalizing abortion in 1990 concerned the exercise of the constitutional role of the monarch. It also concerned a key issue of the women’s movement. The paper examines the development and significance of this crisis. Finally, it looks at the current controversy concerning the refusal of the former king, Albert II, to recognize an extra-marital daughter. Men’s refusal to take on responsibility for (some of) the children they father, is a classical theme of feminist indignation. Arguably, the former king’s attitude on this matter in his private and family life affects the symbolic power of the monarchy.