Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium | |
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Eerste Minister van België (Dutch) Premier Ministre de Belgique (French) Premierminister von Belgien (German) | |
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since 1 October 2020 | |
Executive branch of the Belgian Federal Government | |
Style | Mr Prime Minister (informal) His Excellency[1] (diplomatic) |
Member of | |
Residence | Le Lambermont, Brussels |
Seat | 16, Rue de la Loi, Brussels |
Appointer | Monarch of Belgium |
Term length | No term limit |
Formation | 26 February 1831 1918 (de jure) | (de facto)
First holder | Étienne de Gerlache |
Unofficial names | Premier of Belgium |
Salary | €236,900 annually[2] |
Website | premier.be |
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The prime minister of Belgium (Dutch: Eerste minister van België; French: Premier ministre de Belgique; German: Premierminister von Belgien) or the premier of Belgium is the head of the federal government of Belgium, and the most powerful person in Belgian politics.
The first head of government in Belgian history was Henri van der Noot in 1790, during the short-lived republic of the United Belgian States.
Although Leaders of Government (French: Chefs de Cabinet) had been appointed since the independence of the country, until 1918 the king of the Belgians often presided over the Council of Ministers, so the modern era of the "Premiership" started after World War I with Léon Delacroix. The political importance of the Crown has decreased over time, whereas the position of prime minister has gradually become more important.
Alexander De Croo, a member of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats and son of prominent politician, Herman, was appointed as new prime minister on 1 October 2020. He succeeded Sophie Wilmès.