List of presidents of the Senate (Belgium)

Dumon-Dumortier
Alfred Simonis
Henri 't Kint de Roodenbeke
Marie Joseph Charles, 6th Duke d'Ursel

The president of the Senate (Dutch: Voorzitter van de Senaat, French: Président du Sénat) is the presiding officer of the upper house of the Federal Parliament of Belgium. The current president of the Senate is Valérie De Bue.

It is custom that the president gets its portrait painted by an artist, in the collection of art of the Senate some famous works can be found like portraits painted by Alfred Cluysenaar.


No. Name Party Entered office Left office
Senate fully equal to the Chamber of Representatives
1. Goswin Baron de Stassart Liberal 12 September 1831 14 June 1838
2. Louis Baron de Schiervel Catholic 13 November 1838 27 May 1848
3. Augustin Dumon-Dumortier Liberal Party 27 June 1848 28 January 1852
4. Eugène Prince of Ligne, of Amblise and of Epinoy Liberal Party 25 March 1852 18 July 1879
5. Camille Baron de Tornaco Liberal Party 11 November 1879 8 March 1880
6. Michel Edmond Baron de Sélys-Longchamps Liberal Party 3 August 1880 28 May 1884
7. Jules Baron d'Anethan Catholic Party 23 July 1884 19 August 1885
8. Charles Count de Merode-Westerloo Catholic Party 10 November 1885 6 April 1892
9. Henri Baron t'Kint de Roodenbeke de Naeyer Catholic Party 26 April 1892 10 November 1899
10. Marie Joseph Charles, 6th Duke d'Ursel Catholic Party 14 November 1899 15 November 1903
11. Henri Count de Merode-Westerloo Catholic Party 2 December 1903 13 July 1908
12. Alfred Viscount Simonis Catholic Party 28 August 1908 5 August 1911
13. Paul Baron de Favereau Catholic Union 14 November 1911 26 September 1922
14. Arnold Count t'Kint de Roodenbeke Catholic Union 14 November 1922 10 August 1928
15. Charles Magnette Liberal Party 13 November 1928 28 October 1932
16. Emile Digneffe Liberal Party 27 December 1932 11 August 1934
17. Maurice Count Lippens Liberal Party 13 November 1934 13 April 1936
18. Romain Baron Moyersoen Catholic Block 1 July 1936 6 March 1939
19. Robert Gillon Liberal Party 26 April 1939 8 November 1947
20. Henri Rolin BSP-PSB 11 November 1947 6 November 1949
21. Robert Gillon Liberal Party 8 November 1949 30 April 1950
22. Paul Struye CVP–PSC 27 June 1950 12 March 1954
23. Robert Gillon Liberal Party 5 May 1954 29 April 1958
24. Paul Struye CVP–PSC[1] 24 June 1958 5 October 1973
25. Pierre Harmel PSC 9 October, 1973 9 March 1977
26. Robert Vandekerckhove CVP 7 June 1977 23 February 1980
27. Edward Leemans CVP 5 March 1980 6 November 1987
28. Roger Lallemand PS 10 March 1988 9 May 1988
29. Lambert Kelchtermans CVP 16 May 1988 10 October 1988
30. Frank Swaelen CVP 11 October 1988 12 April 1995
Senate quasi-equal to the Chamber of Representatives
30. Frank Swaelen CVP 8 June 1995 5 May 1999
31. Armand De Decker MR 14 July 1999 20 July 2004
32. Anne-Marie Lizin PS 20 July 2004 2 May 2007
33. Armand De Decker MR 12 July 2007 7 May 2010
34. Danny Pieters N-VA 20 July 2010 10 October 2011
35. Sabine de Bethune CD&V 11 October 2011 14 October 2014
Senate as reflection platform with very limited power
36. Christine Defraigne MR 14 October 2014 3 December 2018
37. Jacques Brotchi MR 14 December 2018 23 May 2019
38. Sabine Laruelle MR 18 July 2019 13 October 2020
39. Stephanie D'Hose Open Vld 13 October 2020 18 May 2024
40. Valérie De Bue MR 25 July 2024 Incumbent

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Paul Struye became a member of the francophone PSC following the split of the unitary CVP–PSC in 1972.

Sources

  • Laureys, Véronique; Mark Van den Wijngaert; Luc François; Emmanuel Gerard; Jean-Pierre Nandrin; Jean Stengers (1999). De geschiedenis van de Belgische Senaat: 1831-1995. Tielt: Lannoo. ISBN 90-209-3682-4.