Jan Peumans
Encyclopedia
Jan Peter Peumans is a Flemish politician from the province of Limburg
in Belgium
. Being part of the Flemish Movement
, he was at a young age already member of the Volksunie. He seated for that party in the Limburgish provincial council and is since 2004 a Flemish Parliament
member for the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). From 2007 until 2009 he was N-VA fraction leader
in the Flemish Parliament. After the elections of 7 June 2009 (which was successful for his party; and with more than 27.000 Limburgish preference votes for him), he became President of the Flemish Parliament
, succeeding Marleen Vanderpoorten
.
In the Flemish Parliament, he worked e.g. on the case of the Antwerp Oosterweel connection
. Peumans was elected most hard-working member of the Parliament in the period 2004-2009, by the newspaper De Standaard
.
On 27 January 2010, Peumans caused controversy after he was absent during a reception at the royal palace. As convinced republican
he refuses to go to receptions at the king's palace, although he talked to him once on the occasion of the day of the Flemish Community
.
On 12 September 2010, he was in Visé
(just across the language border in Wallonia, close to where he lives), where he claims to have been insulted and attacked by a local because "he had no business in Wallonia". Peumans said afterwards he never expected he would be attacked due to his political points of view. His statement is being disputed by the alleged attacker.
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
in 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...
. Being part of the Flemish Movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
, he was at a young age already member of the Volksunie. He seated for that party in the Limburgish provincial council and is since 2004 a Flemish Parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
member for the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). From 2007 until 2009 he was N-VA fraction leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
in the Flemish Parliament. After the elections of 7 June 2009 (which was successful for his party; and with more than 27.000 Limburgish preference votes for him), he became President of the Flemish Parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
, succeeding Marleen Vanderpoorten
Marleen Vanderpoorten
Marleen Caroline Valère Vanderpoorten is a Flemish politician and member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats . She is a daughter of Herman Vanderpoorten and a granddaughter of Arthur Vanderpoorten...
.
In the Flemish Parliament, he worked e.g. on the case of the Antwerp Oosterweel connection
Oosterweelconnection
The Oosterweelconnection is a long running proposed construction project intended to complete the Antwerp Ring Road.Beheersmaatschappij Antwerpen Mobiel , a Flemish Government controlled body has, since 2001, proposed to connect the Expressweg near Blokkersdijk via a toll tunnel underneath the...
. Peumans was elected most hard-working member of the Parliament in the period 2004-2009, by the newspaper De Standaard
De Standaard
De Standaard is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Corelio . Circulation was about 102.280 in 2007. It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, and in opposition to the Socialist Flemish daily De Morgen...
.
On 27 January 2010, Peumans caused controversy after he was absent during a reception at the royal palace. As convinced republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
he refuses to go to receptions at the king's palace, although he talked to him once on the occasion of the day of the Flemish Community
Day of the Flemish Community
The Day of the Flemish Community of Belgium, also known as the Flemish Community Day, is celebrated every year on 11 July in remembrance for the Battle of Golden Spurs or Guldensporenslag and is observed only by the Flemish Community of Belgium.- History :...
.
On 12 September 2010, he was in Visé
Visé
Visé is a Walloon municipality and city of Belgium, where it is located on the river Meuse, in the province of Liège.The municipality consists of the former municipalities of Visé, Lanaye, Lixhe, Richelle, Argenteau and Cheratte....
(just across the language border in Wallonia, close to where he lives), where he claims to have been insulted and attacked by a local because "he had no business in Wallonia". Peumans said afterwards he never expected he would be attacked due to his political points of view. His statement is being disputed by the alleged attacker.
Political career
- 1983–1994: SchepenSchepenA schepen is a Dutch word referring to a municipal civic office in Dutch-speaking countries. The term is still in use in Belgium, but it has been replaced by wethouder in the Netherlands. The closest English terms are alderman, member of the municipal executive, councillor and magistrate,...
in RiemstRiemstRiemst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Riemst had a total population of 15,963. The total area is 57.88 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km².... - 1985–1987: Councillor in LimburgLimburg (Belgium)Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
- 1991–2004: Councillor in Limburg
- 1995–2006: Mayor of RiemstRiemstRiemst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Riemst had a total population of 15,963. The total area is 57.88 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km²....
- 2004–present: Member of the Flemish ParliamentFlemish ParliamentThe Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
- 2007–present: Schepen in RiemstRiemstRiemst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Riemst had a total population of 15,963. The total area is 57.88 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km²....
- 2007–2009: Parliamentary group leaderParliamentary group leaderThe leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
for the New Flemish Alliance in the Flemish Parliament - 2008–present: Vice President New Flemish Alliance
- 2009–present: President of the Flemish Parliament