Question

Q3. Explain the Belgian model of power sharing.

Answer 1

i) Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
(ii) Power sharing : Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. 
(iii) Separate government for Brussels : Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government.

Answer 2

Introduction: Belgian leaders amended their constitution 4 times in 1970 and 1993 to bring out an   arrangement of power sharing so that everyone  

would live in harmony with each other and some of the elements of those changes are given below.

⤞Provision in constitution was kept for equal no. of ministers of both the groups of Dutch and French  central government.

⤞ State governments are not subordinate to central government and have equal powers like central government.

⤞ Capital city of Belgium, Brussels was given a separate government and equal power was distributed   in both the communities.

⤞ One Community Government was also formed which is to be elected by people belonging to one language community.

⤞ Community Government was given powers on many issues like linguistic, educational, cultural, etc.

Conclusion: Belgium gave equal representation to all the groups and ensured their participation  in the country's political system.