The Prime Minister is the political head of a Government formed by his own party. He chairs the Council of Ministers and thus has real authority over his colleagues, although a Prime Minister can be dismissed by a vote of no confidence in Parliament. He is the most important figure in a country’s politics, and as such must be seen to deliver results. In contrast, he must also avoid getting bogged down in details and bureaucracy, or risk being overwhelmed by information, resulting in ineffective decision-making.
Historically, the Prime Minister’s power and influence have varied depending on his own abilities as well as his ability to work with others. A Prime Minister who carries out the functions of his office to a high standard can make a real difference.
As the chair of Cabinet, the Prime Minister controls the agenda and discussions of ministers’ meetings. In addition, he can select the members of Cabinet committees. As such, he has substantial influence over Cabinet decisions and activities, as well as the wider agenda of Parliament.
The Prime Minister acts as the Union government’s leading spokesman. He meets with diverse groups of people, receives representatives of non-governmental organisations, and travels as much as possible to Belgium to speak on behalf of the government here and abroad. During times of crisis, he is the government’s political crisis manager. Moreover, he is also the leader of the ruling party and the political head of the armed forces.