Jean-Luc Dehaene
Encyclopedia
Jean-Luc Dehaene is a Belgian
politician.
, France
, when his parents were fleeing German
troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond (General Christian Workers' Union) (ACW), a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij (Christian People's Party) (CVP).
In 1981, he became Minister of Social Affairs and Institutional Reform, until 1988, when he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Institutional Reform.
and Melchior Wathelet
had failed, he managed to form a governing coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. This became one of Belgium's most important governments, because it successfully transformed Belgium into a federal
state.
In March 1993, Dehaene offered the King the resignation of his government, because of diverging views on how to handle the public finances. However, within a week the differences were put aside.
After the death of King Baudouin I, his government exercised the royal function until Prince Albert was sworn in as King Albert II of the Belgians
nine days later.
In 1994, he ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Belgian troops from Rwanda
, thus lifting the last barrier to the genocide
of Tutsis. During questions from the Belgian parliamentary commission into this decision he repeatedly acknowledged no regrets about the decision. He was the leading candidate to replace Jacques Delors as President of the European Commission but at the Summit in Corfu
, John Major
vetoed the appointment whereas all 11 other countries leaders supported Dehaene following much arm-twisting of other dissenters in what was widely seen as a Franco-German
stitch-up. The Luxembourg PM Santer was appointed as a compromise candidate instead.
scandal – it managed to serve the entire legislature. During this period, for his work toward a unified Europe, Dehaene received the Vision for Europe Award
in 1996. Some weeks before the 1999 elections a food scandal erupted, and both governing parties lost much of their support.
formed the first Belgian government without the Christian Democrats since 1958. Dehaene remained senator until 2001, when he became mayor
of Vilvoorde
, a city near Brussels
. He also joined the Board of Directors of Lernout & Hauspie
where he was part of what is considered one of the largest corporate scandals in history prior to Enron
. To the surprise of many, he was nominated by Verhofstadt to become Vice Chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe.
In order to offer support to his party, the CD&V (Christian Democrat and Flemish), he was once again a candidate during the 2003 elections, but this was clearly not with the intention of becoming Prime Minister, as he was put as last person on the party list. In June 2004, Jean-Luc Dehaene was elected to the European Parliament. In 2003, he was awarded the Vlerick Award
.
After the Belgian elections of 2007
, Dehaene was appointed as mediator in the process to form a new government.
Dehaene is currently serving as the chief enforcer of UEFA's Financial Fair Play.
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.
Early life and political career
He was born in MontpellierMontpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, when his parents were fleeing German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond (General Christian Workers' Union) (ACW), a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij (Christian People's Party) (CVP).
In 1981, he became Minister of Social Affairs and Institutional Reform, until 1988, when he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Institutional Reform.
Dehaene I (1992–1995)
In 1992, after both Guy VerhofstadtGuy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who was the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.- Early career :...
and Melchior Wathelet
Melchior Wathelet
Melchior H.M.J.F.C. Wathelet is a Belgian politician and member of the Humanist Democratic Centre. He has degrees in law and in economics and is a Master of Laws . He's also a professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and the Université de Liège...
had failed, he managed to form a governing coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. This became one of Belgium's most important governments, because it successfully transformed Belgium into a federal
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
state.
In March 1993, Dehaene offered the King the resignation of his government, because of diverging views on how to handle the public finances. However, within a week the differences were put aside.
After the death of King Baudouin I, his government exercised the royal function until Prince Albert was sworn in as King Albert II of the Belgians
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
nine days later.
In 1994, he ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Belgian troops from Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, thus lifting the last barrier to the genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
of Tutsis. During questions from the Belgian parliamentary commission into this decision he repeatedly acknowledged no regrets about the decision. He was the leading candidate to replace Jacques Delors as President of the European Commission but at the Summit in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
vetoed the appointment whereas all 11 other countries leaders supported Dehaene following much arm-twisting of other dissenters in what was widely seen as a Franco-German
Franco-German cooperation
The relations between France and Germany is embodied in a cooperation called Franco-German Friendship . This came about after 1945, when a French-German enmity between the two countries ended....
stitch-up. The Luxembourg PM Santer was appointed as a compromise candidate instead.
Dehaene II (1995–1999)
His second government was also composed of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. Despite the fact that the government was flooded with crises – notably the DutrouxMarc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux is a Belgian serial killer and child molester, convicted of having kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused six girls during 1995 and 1996, ranging in age from 8 to 19, four of whom he murdered. He was also convicted of having killed a suspected former accomplice, Bernard Weinstein,...
scandal – it managed to serve the entire legislature. During this period, for his work toward a unified Europe, Dehaene received the Vision for Europe Award
Vision for Europe Award
The Vision for Europe Award is an honour that has been bestowed annually since 1995 by the non-profit Edmond Israel Foundation in "recognition of outstanding achievements in taking Europe into the future."...
in 1996. Some weeks before the 1999 elections a food scandal erupted, and both governing parties lost much of their support.
After 1999
After the elections, Guy VerhofstadtGuy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who was the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.- Early career :...
formed the first Belgian government without the Christian Democrats since 1958. Dehaene remained senator until 2001, when 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 Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
, a city near Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He also joined the Board of Directors of Lernout & Hauspie
Lernout & Hauspie
Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, or L&H, was a leading Belgium-based speech recognition technology company, founded by Jo Lernout and Pol Hauspie, that went bankrupt in 2001...
where he was part of what is considered one of the largest corporate scandals in history prior to Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
. To the surprise of many, he was nominated by Verhofstadt to become Vice Chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe.
In order to offer support to his party, the CD&V (Christian Democrat and Flemish), he was once again a candidate during the 2003 elections, but this was clearly not with the intention of becoming Prime Minister, as he was put as last person on the party list. In June 2004, Jean-Luc Dehaene was elected to the European Parliament. In 2003, he was awarded the Vlerick Award
Vlerick Award
The Vlerick Award is a Belgian award granted by the Alumni of the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. The nominees must be a Belgian manager with excelling management skills who has achieved sustainable results from an international perspective...
.
After the Belgian elections of 2007
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...
, Dehaene was appointed as mediator in the process to form a new government.
Dehaene is currently serving as the chief enforcer of UEFA's Financial Fair Play.