On 20 May the Belgian Embassy organized a reception on the occasion of the visit of André Flahaut, President of the Chamber of Representatives and Minister of State.
The Chamber is also called House:
Belgium is a federal State with a bicameral Parliament consisting of a House of Representatives (Chambre des représentants – Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers) and a Senate (Sénat – Senaat). The Communities (Flemish, French-speaking and German-speaking) and Regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) were established next to the already existing federal, provincial and municipal institutions.
The House consists of 150 members who are directly elected on the basis of the proportional representation system for a four-year term. It convenes in the Palace of the Nation (Palais de la Nation – Paleis der Natie) in Brussels. The Federal Government is politically accountable solely to the House.
I had met the minister a couple of years ago when he was Minister of Defense and we had lunch together in the (former) Morel’s Restaurant on Liangmaqiao Lu.

As the minister is a big fan of Renaat Morel, the great buffet was obviously done by our friend Renaat.
Pictured are Rik Van Droogenbroeck, Chargé d’Affaires, the minister and Renaat. Plus the crowd of guests enjoying Belgian beer and Belgian haute cuisine!