Intra-state government and representation in Belgium : navigating a labyrinth or maze?

This chapter scrutinizes intra-state government and representation in Belgium. After outlining the general (intra-)state structure, a more specific focus on the local tiers (i.e. municipalities and provinces) is taken reflecting on how this relates to their supralocal counterparts (i.e. regional and federal government). This addresses the institutional context and key developments in the position and role of legislative and executive representatives. It also discusses the main (debated) reforms on intra-governmental relations. Long denoted a as labyrinth, navigating the current governance of Belgium resembles more of getting through a maze. The singular path towards the center gave way to a network of passages. Policy-making has become increasingly multilevel, with a growing entanglement between the various (intra-)state levels, institutions and actors. However, the central features of the traditional Belgian model still uphold: a consensual democracy with a predominance of democratic party government. These continue to provide a compass through its fragmented polity