WORLD : Belgian King Back on Throne but Future Remains in Doubt

Parliament returned King Baudouin to the throne today, two days after he agreed to be suspended to avoid signing a bill legalizing abortion. But some unhappy lawmakers urged changes in the law to reduce royal privileges.

There were no votes against putting the king back on the throne, but 93 of the 338 deputies present abstained.

King Baudouin, a devout Roman Catholic, refused to sign the abortion bill after it was passed by Parliament last Friday. As the constitutional head of state, he must sign all bills to make them law.

On Tuesday, Baudouin agreed to a temporary suspension. He was removed from the throne Wednesday, after which the government enacted the law itself.

Prime Minister Wilfried Martens said his center-left government will seek changes in the constitution to prevent future refusals by the king, on moral grounds, to endorse legislation. He did not elaborate.

But it is expected that the government wants the royal powers, already largely ceremonial, reduced further.

Experts said the king cannot cast aside his constitutional role only because he morally opposes legislation. They said he can only lose his constitutional powers if he is physically or mentally unable to rule.