Minister of State

The Minister of State is an honorary title in Belgium. It is formally granted by the Belgian monarch, but on the initiative of the Belgian federal government. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is granted for exceptional merits, generally to senior politicians at the end of their party careers. It is not lost after a criminal conviction (Guy Spitaels, Willy Claes). Ministers of state are often former cabinet members or party leaders. Ministers of State advise the Sovereign in delicate situations, with moral authority but without formal competence. They are also members of the Crown Council of Belgium. List of living ministers of state Willy Claes – 2 December 1983 Philippe Busquin – 26 May 1992 Guy Verhofstadt – 30 January 1995 Louis Tobback – 30 January 1995 Annemie Neyts – 30 January 1995 Magda Aelvoet – 30 January 1995 Louis Michel – 30 January 1995 José Daras – 30 January 1995 Gérard Deprez – 30 January 1995 Herman De Croo – 3 June 1998 François-Xavier de Donnea – 17 July 1998 Mark Eyskens – 18 November 1998 Elio Di Rupo – 28 January 2002 Freddy Willockx – 28 January 2002 Raymond Langendries – 28 January 2002 Miet Smet – 28 January 2002 Patrick Dewael – 28 January 2002 Jos Geysels – 28 January 2002 Karel De Gucht – 28 January 2002 Herman Van Rompuy – 26 January 2004 Jaak Gabriëls – 26 January 2004 Charles Picqué – 26 January 2004 Philippe Monfils – 26 January 2004 Étienne Davignon – 26 January 2004 Johan Vande Lanotte – 30 January 2006 Frank Vandenbroucke – 24 November 2009 Melchior Wathelet – 7 December 2009 André Flahaut – 7 December 2009 Yves Leterme – 7 December 2011 Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou – 20 July 2013 Frans van Daele – 2 November 2017 Charles Michel – 31 October 2019 Former ministers of state