Élections locales 2024 : présentation générale

Summary

Every six years, on the second Sunday of October, voters in Wallonia elect representatives to serve on municipal and provincial councils. The municipalities handle both mandatory duties, like civil registry management and road maintenance, and optional tasks, such as housing and tourism. The number of councilors depends on population size, ranging from 7 to 55. Mayors are chosen from the most popular candidates in the leading party. For provincial elections, Wallonia is divided into 34 districts. Voting is mandatory for all Belgians aged 18 and above, with foreign residents eligible to vote in municipal elections upon request.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ Every 6 years on the second Sunday of October, voters are called to choose their representatives for the communal and provincial councils.
• 🏙️ The commune is the level of government closest to the citizens, and there are 253 French-speaking communes in Wallonia.
• 📜 Communes have mandatory duties like maintaining civil status registers, public order, and upkeep of communal roads.
• 🏘️ Communes also have optional tasks related to housing, tourism, and the economy.
• 👥 For communal elections, the commune itself is the constituency, and candidates must reside within the commune.
• 👨‍⚖️ The number of communal councilors is population-based, ranging from 7 in small communes to 55 in large cities.
• 🎖️ The bourgmestre is the candidate with the most preference votes from the most popular list in the majority pact.
• 🏫 Wallonia has five provinces that handle tasks related to education and health, among others.
• 🌍 The electoral district for provincial elections includes multiple communes within the province; Wallonia has 34 districts.
• 🗳️ Voting is compulsory for all Belgian citizens aged 18 and over, while foreign nationals can vote in communal elections if they apply by July 31, 2024.

Q & A

When are communal and provincial elections held in Wallonia?

The elections are held every six years on the second Sunday of October.

What is the role of communes in Wallonia?

Communes are the closest political level to citizens, handling mandatory tasks like maintaining civil registers, public order, and road maintenance, as well as optional tasks like housing, tourism, and economic development.

How many communes are there in the French-speaking part of Wallonia?

There are 253 French-speaking communes in Wallonia.

How is the number of communal council members determined?

The number of communal council members depends on the population of the commune, ranging from 7 members in the smallest communes to 55 in the largest cities.

Who is elected as mayor (bourgmestre) in Wallonia?

The mayor is the candidate with the most preference votes from the most popular list that is part of the majority pact.

How many provinces does Wallonia have, and what are some of their responsibilities?

Wallonia has five provinces, which carry out various missions, including tasks related to education and health.

What is a district in the context of provincial elections?

A district is a group of communes within a province, and it serves as the electoral constituency for provincial elections.

How many districts are there in Wallonia?

There are 34 districts in Wallonia.

How many members does a provincial council have?

The provincial council is composed of 37 to 56 members, depending on the population of the districts.

Is voting mandatory in Wallonia?

Yes, voting is mandatory for all Belgian citizens aged 18 and over. Foreign nationals can vote in communal elections if they apply by July 31, 2024.