Elio Di Rupo
Encyclopedia
Elio Di Rupo is a Belgian
social-democratic
politician and the Party Leader of the Socialist Party (PS).
immigrants. His father died when he was one year old, and his mother had to take care of the seven children. For financial reasons, three of the children had to be placed in an orphanage
, located at a kilometre's distance of where the family lived in Morlanwelz.
He graduated as a chemist
at the Université de Mons-Hainaut (UMH) and a PhD
from the same University. He started his professional career at the Université de Mons-Hainaut.
in 1980-1981.
Elio Di Rupo is the leader of one of the two Belgian
social-democratic parties, the Socialist Party
(Parti Socialiste, PS), and is one of Belgium
's most powerful politician
s.
Elio Di Rupo is a flamboyant left-winger, and is widely considered to have played a major part in the resurgence of the PS. He is widely known to always wear red bow tie
s.
He is a deputy (MP) for the Arrondissement of Mons
in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. He once described François Mitterrand
as being "a character from a novel".
He became mayor
of Mons
, capital of the province of Hainaut, in 2000.
In October 2005, he became Minister-President of the Walloon Region after Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
resigned amid a corruption scandal, involving several members of Di Rupo's party. Di Rupo continued as party leader though and has had to deal with the PS's ICDI affair that emerged in May 2006.
In 2006 and 2007, Di Rupo and its party appeared unsuccessful in trying to clean out corruption. This was probably instrumental in the party's losing its first place amongst French community
parties 2007 federal election
. Di Rupo then decided to take a firmer stance against corruption in Charleroi: he virtually took control of the city's Socialist Party and ordered the Socialist mayor
and aldermen
to resign.
After former PS president Guy Spitaels
urged him to choose between the presidency of the party and of the Walloon Region
, Di Rupo decided to organize internal elections for party president in July 2007 rather than in October of that year and announced that he would resign from his mandate as Minister-President if re-elected. On July 11, 2007, Di Rupo was reelected president of the Socialist Party with 89.5% of the votes.
Following the 2010 Belgian general election
, in which the PS emerged as the largest of the Francophone parties and the second largest political party in Belgium, speculation emerged as to whether Di Rupo could be the Prime Minister in a new government
. The RTBF
raised questions, however, about whether Di Rupo's limited fluency in Dutch would be a stumbling block in seeking that office, since this was one of the reasons why a francophone has not held the prime minister's post since 1979. In May 2011, he was appointed Formateur
by the Belgian king, which gave Di Rupo the task of forming a government. Traditionally, the Formateur will also become the Prime Minister of the government he formed.
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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...
social-democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
politician and the Party Leader of the Socialist Party (PS).
Biography
Elio Di Rupo is the son of ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigrants. His father died when he was one year old, and his mother had to take care of the seven children. For financial reasons, three of the children had to be placed in an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
, located at a kilometre's distance of where the family lived in Morlanwelz.
He graduated as a chemist
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the Université de Mons-Hainaut (UMH) and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the same University. He started his professional career at the Université de Mons-Hainaut.
Political career
He started his political career as an attache at the cabinet of Jean-Maurice DehousseJean-Maurice Dehousse
Jean-Maurice Dehousse is a former Member of the European Parliament who served Belgium between 1999 and 2004 as a member of the Parti Socialiste. He was the first Minister-President of the Walloon Region.- Life :...
in 1980-1981.
Elio Di Rupo is the leader of one of the two Belgian
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...
social-democratic parties, the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)
The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party...
(Parti Socialiste, PS), and is one of Belgium
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...
's most powerful politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s.
Elio Di Rupo is a flamboyant left-winger, and is widely considered to have played a major part in the resurgence of the PS. He is widely known to always wear red bow tie
Bow tie
The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
s.
He is a deputy (MP) for the Arrondissement of Mons
Arrondissement of Mons
The Arrondissement of Mons is one of the seven administrative arrondissements in the Province of Hainaut, Belgium.It is both an administrative and a judicial arrondissement...
in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. He once described François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
as being "a character from a novel".
He became mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
, capital of the province of Hainaut, in 2000.
In October 2005, he became Minister-President of the Walloon Region after Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe , nicknamed "Van Cau", is a Walloon politician. He is member of the Belgian French-speaking Socialist Party ....
resigned amid a corruption scandal, involving several members of Di Rupo's party. Di Rupo continued as party leader though and has had to deal with the PS's ICDI affair that emerged in May 2006.
In 2006 and 2007, Di Rupo and its party appeared unsuccessful in trying to clean out corruption. This was probably instrumental in the party's losing its first place amongst French community
French Community of Belgium
The French Community of Belgium is one of the three official communities in Belgium along with the Flemish Community and the German speaking Community. Although its name could suggest that it is a community of French citizens in Belgium, it is not...
parties 2007 federal election
Belgian general election, 2007
The 2007 Belgian general election took place on Sunday 10 June 2007. Voters went to the polls in order to elect new members for the Chamber of Representatives and Senate.Eligible voters were Belgian citizens 18 years and older...
. Di Rupo then decided to take a firmer stance against corruption in Charleroi: he virtually took control of the city's Socialist Party and ordered the Socialist mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
to resign.
After former PS president Guy Spitaels
Guy Spitaels
Guy G. A. Gh. Spitaels is a Belgian politician of the Socialist Party. He graduated in 1957 in political and social sciences at the Universite Catholique de Louvain ....
urged him to choose between the presidency of the party and of the Walloon Region
Walloon Region
The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three federal Regions of Belgium, and its capital is Namur. It comprises, as defined by Article 5 of the Constitution of Belgium, the provinces of Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg and Namur...
, Di Rupo decided to organize internal elections for party president in July 2007 rather than in October of that year and announced that he would resign from his mandate as Minister-President if re-elected. On July 11, 2007, Di Rupo was reelected president of the Socialist Party with 89.5% of the votes.
Following the 2010 Belgian general election
Belgian general election, 2010
General elections were held in Belgium on 13 June 2010. After the fall of the previous government over the withdrawal of Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats from the government the King dissolved the legislature and called new elections...
, in which the PS emerged as the largest of the Francophone parties and the second largest political party in Belgium, speculation emerged as to whether Di Rupo could be the Prime Minister in a new government
2010 Belgian government formation
Following the Belgian general election held on 13 June 2010, a process of cabinet formation started in Belgium. The election produced a very fragmented political landscape, with 11 parties elected to the Chamber of Representatives, none of which have more than 20 percent of the seats...
. The RTBF
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
raised questions, however, about whether Di Rupo's limited fluency in Dutch would be a stumbling block in seeking that office, since this was one of the reasons why a francophone has not held the prime minister's post since 1979. In May 2011, he was appointed Formateur
Formateur
A formateur is a politician who is appointed by the head of state to lead the formation of a coalition government, after either a general election or the collapse of a previous government. The role of the formateur is especially important in the politics of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg,...
by the Belgian king, which gave Di Rupo the task of forming a government. Traditionally, the Formateur will also become the Prime Minister of the government he formed.
External links
Official blog of Elio Di Rupo|-
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