The merger of the administrations of the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate has just been approved, marking a major step in the modernisation of the federal Parliament.
This initiative, driven by Valérie De Bue, President of the Senate, and supported by Peter De Roover, President of the Chamber (N-VA), embodies a shared vision of efficiency, rationalisation and modernisation of the institutions.
The MR group in the Senate, led by its group leader Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven, supported this proposal from our assembly president from the outset.
Since taking office, Valérie De Bue has shown determination to modernise the institution. This merger, which will bring together the 750 civil servants of both assemblies under a single employer by the end of the year, is a first in Belgium. It will create a unified administrative structure with a single status for staff and a joint budget.
“This merger, which I have championed with conviction, is a unique opportunity to pool our resources while respecting employees' rights. It represents a concrete response to today's demands for efficiency and modernisation,” said Valérie De Bue.
With this merger, staff from both assemblies will work towards a shared mission, serving both the Chamber and the Senate. Ambitious reforms also provide for an investment fund for the joint management of parliamentary infrastructure by 2026. All practical and legal arrangements will be defined in the coming months, in consultation with civil servants.
By rising above political divides, the MR once again shows that it is an essential player in tackling the country's institutional challenges. This parliamentary modernisation does not foreshadow a merger of the two chambers themselves, but strengthens their efficiency while respecting constitutional frameworks.