André Damseaux
Encyclopedia
André Damseaux was a Belgian
politician, Minister-President of the Walloon Region and Member of the European Parliament
.
, Belgium. In 1961, Damseaux gained a degree in diplomatic science from the University of Liège
and a degree in political science
from the same university three years later. After working as a journalist with La Meuse
newspaper, Damseaux served on the council of Verviers
, beginning in 1965. This was a position he would hold for over three decades, ending in 1999.
In 1971, Damseaux began his career in the Parliament of Belgium, a career there which would last until 1999. From 1973 to 1974 Damseaux served as the president of the Liberal Reformist Party
in Wallonia. In 1977, Damseaux became a Member of the European Parliament
representing Belgium, and became one of the first directly elected Members of the European Parliament in 1979 when direct elections began. In 1981 Damseaux joined the Walloon government, as Minister for External Relations and supervision of municipalities. The same year he began service as the Minister for National Education in the federal government, and in 1982 served as Minister-President of the Walloon Region. However, after suffering protests over his school reforms, Damseaux resigned from his Minister for National Education position on 9 March 1987. From 1989 to 1994 Damseaux was the Mayor of Verviers.
In 1999, Damseaux ceased being a member of the Verviers council, and in 2001 became a member of the Jalhay
council. On 29 March 2007 Damseaux died in a Verviers hospital after suffering from a stroke.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
politician, Minister-President of the Walloon Region and Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
.
Life
André Damseaux was born on 5 March 1937 in VerviersVerviers
Verviers is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. The Verviers municipality includes the old communes of Ensival, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Heusy...
, Belgium. In 1961, Damseaux gained a degree in diplomatic science from the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
and a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the same university three years later. After working as a journalist with La Meuse
La Meuse
La Meuse may refer to:* La Meuse , see List_of_locomotive_builders#Belgium* La Meuse , see List of newspapers in Belgium...
newspaper, Damseaux served on the council of Verviers
Verviers
Verviers is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. The Verviers municipality includes the old communes of Ensival, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Heusy...
, beginning in 1965. This was a position he would hold for over three decades, ending in 1999.
In 1971, Damseaux began his career in the Parliament of Belgium, a career there which would last until 1999. From 1973 to 1974 Damseaux served as the president of the Liberal Reformist Party
Liberal Reformist Party
The Parti Réformateur Libéral was a Belgian liberal party active in Wallonia and Brussels. It grew out of the unitiarian PVV-PLP and has since become part of the Mouvement Réformateur.-PVV-PLP:* Omer Vanaudenhove 1961 - 1968...
in Wallonia. In 1977, Damseaux became a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
representing Belgium, and became one of the first directly elected Members of the European Parliament in 1979 when direct elections began. In 1981 Damseaux joined the Walloon government, as Minister for External Relations and supervision of municipalities. The same year he began service as the Minister for National Education in the federal government, and in 1982 served as Minister-President of the Walloon Region. However, after suffering protests over his school reforms, Damseaux resigned from his Minister for National Education position on 9 March 1987. From 1989 to 1994 Damseaux was the Mayor of Verviers.
In 1999, Damseaux ceased being a member of the Verviers council, and in 2001 became a member of the Jalhay
Jalhay
Jalhay is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. On January 1, 2006 Jalhay had a total population of 7,953. The total area is 107.75 km² which gives a population density of 74 inhabitants per km². The highest point of the municipality is the...
council. On 29 March 2007 Damseaux died in a Verviers hospital after suffering from a stroke.