Belgian Constitutional Law BlogGhent University scholarship since 2014
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Belgian constitutional law

Analysis, interviews and monthly reading lists on the Belgian Constitution, the Sixth State Reform and the case law of the Constitutional Court. Founded at Ghent University in 2014 and relaunched in 2026 with a new weekly analysis of current developments, in English and Dutch.

EnglishFederal state, Communities, Regions
NederlandsFederale staat, gemeenschappen, gewesten

Latest analysis

Analysis

Home entries law adopted: does it respect Article 15 of the Belgian Constitution?

On 6 November 2026 the Chamber of Representatives adopted a law allowing police, with an investigating judge's authorisation, to enter homes to arrest foreign nationals who are subject to a removal order, do not cooperate and are considered a danger to public order or national security. Critics question the precision of that notion and the absence of any appeal against the authorisation under Articles 15 and 22 of the Constitution. The law enters into force on 1 March 2027 at the latest and may be challenged before the Constitutional Court within six months of publication.

BelConLawBlog editorial team
  1. Analysis

    King holds De Wever's resignation in consideration: what the Belgian Constitution says

    King Philippe holds PM De Wever's resignation in consideration. What Articles 96, 46 and 106 of the Belgian Constitution say, and why it is a convention.

    BelConLawBlog editorial team
  2. Analysis

    Constitutional Court: criminal appeal period cannot run without information on remedies

    Judgment 125/2026 of the Belgian Constitutional Court: the 30-day criminal appeal period may not run if the convicted person was never told about the remedy.

    BelConLawBlog editorial team
  3. Analysis

    The annulment of the lifespan extension of Doel 1 and 2: the use of measures maintaining effects by the Constitutional Court compared with the Council of State

    Constitutional Court judgment 34/2020 annulled the Doel 1 and 2 lifespan extension but kept its effects until 2022, compared with the Council of State.

    Tim Copman, Elke Seghers, Sien Devriendt, Benjamin Meeusen
  4. Analysis

    Member of parliament, minister, judge. “But most of all I liked being a lawyer.”

    Interview with Erik Derycke, emeritus judge of the Belgian Constitutional Court, on the appointment of judges, collegiality, public trust and resources.

    Marie Woods, Alexander Dekeyser
  5. Analysis

    Flemish Government hungry to defederalise Belgian justice: towards a Flemish Council of State?

    Can Flanders create a general administrative court, a 'Flemish Council of State', using implied powers (Art. 10 SMAIR)? A review of the case law.

    Tom Danhieux, Jasper Vervecken, Jonas Riemslagh, Sien Devriendt e.a.
  6. Sixth State Reform

    Francqui Chair Inaugural Lecture: “Freedom of expression and the right to offend: necessity or threat to democracy?”

    Invitation to Johan Vande Lanotte's Francqui Chair inaugural lecture on freedom of expression and the right to offend, Hasselt University, 25 April 2019.

  7. Announcements

    Study day: ‘The Migration Pact: chronicle of a crisis’

    Ghent University study day (8 May 2019) on the UN Global Compact for Migration and Belgium's crisis, from migration, international and constitutional law.

  8. Analysis

    Militant democracy: introducing a ban on political parties in Belgium?

    Could Belgium introduce a constitutional party ban? An analysis of militant democracy, Article 11 ECHR, Refah Partisi and the PS, Défi and MR proposals.

    Lisa Duquet, Leontien Verpaele, Jurgen Goossens, Sien Devriendt

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