A commemorative €2 coin to mark 75 years of universal suffrage for women in Belgium was unveiled on Wednesday at the House of Representatives in Brussels, in the presence of the Speaker of the House, Eliane Tillieux, and the Federal Minister of Finance, Vincent Van Peteghem.
On 27 March 1948, the bill granting women full universal suffrage was passed by the House, and on 26 June 1949, the first parliamentary elections in which women could participate were held.
"Extending the right to vote is a crucial issue in the history of Belgium and Europe. Women's right to vote is an important milestone in the history of gender equality," Tillieux emphasised.
The President of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies pointed out that although Belgium is now well placed on this issue, with a woman at the head of the Chamber of Deputies and Stéphanie D'Hose at the head of the Senate, as well as a former female Prime Minister, Sophie Wilmès, a great deal of work still needs to be done to achieve equality between men and women in many areas.
"The civil and economic emancipation of women is older than their political emancipation," said professor of social history at the KU Leuven, Leen Van Molle.
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Meanwhile, the Finance Minister emphasised how recent this right to vote is in Belgium, having only been established 75 years ago. "This coin is a powerful symbol of women's right to vote. It is a logical addition to the coin collection."
The coins are intended for collectors, with 125,000 in 'Fleur de coin' quality and 5,000 in 'Proof' quality, the best quality for a coin, said the Royal Belgian Mint's coin commissioner, Giovanni Van de Velde.
