Nelly Maes
Encyclopedia
Nelly Maes is a Belgian
social liberal
politician
from the Flanders
region
.
She began her professional career as a teacher
. Her professional political career started in 1971 when on behalf of Hugo Schiltz
she was stood candidate and was elected for the Volksunie
into the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
, where she seated until 1977, becoming an elected senator
in the next year, 1978, till 1981. Upon being elected as vice-president of the party she left parlementary work, as the Volksunie went through rough seas internally in those days, when separists
and regionalists, leftists and conservatives could't find a way to solve the problems concerning the whereabouts of the party which saw its political aims come true when the Belgian state
deeply reformed itself from a unitarian state into a federation
.
In 1985 she returned to her seat in the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives, leaving there in 1991, again to continue in the Belgian Senate. But in 1995 she changed places and became a member of the newly formed Flemish Parliament
until 1998, when elected into the European Parliament
for the European Free Alliance
.
In 2001 the Volksunie split, after which Maes, who was very much against the split, joined Spirit
. Alliancepartner Sp.a
put their own five favourable candidates on the highest places on the mutual election list for the European elections in 2004, Maes being sixth. Unfortunately only five members were elected, so Maes is without a parlementary seat nowadays.
However, she was pointed as the president of the European Free Alliance, and as president of the Flemish Peace Institute, an organisation closely related to the Flemish Parliament.
Maes always stood firm for regional culturalism, regional languages, the environment and women's liberation, which caused her fame as being "Red Nelly".
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 liberal
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
region
Regionalisation
Regionalization is the tendency to form regions, or the process of doing so.Regionalization can be observed in various disciplines:*In geography, it has two ways: the process of delineating the Earth, its small areas or other units into regions and a state of such a delineation.*In globalization...
.
She began her professional career as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. Her professional political career started in 1971 when on behalf of Hugo Schiltz
Hugo Schiltz
Hugo Schiltz was a Belgian lawyer and politician. He was Belgian MP from 1965 to 1988 and senator from 1992 to 1995. He was also twice minister, from 1981 to 1985 in the first Flemish Government and between 1988 and 1991 in the Belgian federal government Martens VIII...
she was stood candidate and was elected for the Volksunie
People's Union (Belgium)
People's Union was a Belgian political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists....
into the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
The Belgian Chamber of Representatives is one of the two chambers in the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Senate...
, where she seated until 1977, becoming an elected senator
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
in the next year, 1978, till 1981. Upon being elected as vice-president of the party she left parlementary work, as the Volksunie went through rough seas internally in those days, when separists
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
and regionalists, leftists and conservatives could't find a way to solve the problems concerning the whereabouts of the party which saw its political aims come true when the Belgian state
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...
deeply reformed itself from a unitarian state into a federation
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...
.
In 1985 she returned to her seat in the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives, leaving there in 1991, again to continue in the Belgian Senate. But in 1995 she changed places and became a member of the newly formed 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...
until 1998, when elected into the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
for the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
.
In 2001 the Volksunie split, after which Maes, who was very much against the split, joined Spirit
Spirit (Belgium)
' was a Belgian Flemish political party formed after dissolution of the moderate nationalist People's Union party. Prior to 19 April 2008 it was known as Spirit, and intermediately as Flemish Progressives...
. Alliancepartner Sp.a
Socialist Party - Different
' is a Flemish social-democratic party in Belgium. It was formerly known as the Socialistische Partij , which in turn had branched off from the Belgian Socialist Party, itself formed by former members of the Belgian Labour Party.-1978-now:The party was the big winner in the 2003 election, running...
put their own five favourable candidates on the highest places on the mutual election list for the European elections in 2004, Maes being sixth. Unfortunately only five members were elected, so Maes is without a parlementary seat nowadays.
However, she was pointed as the president of the European Free Alliance, and as president of the Flemish Peace Institute, an organisation closely related to the Flemish Parliament.
Maes always stood firm for regional culturalism, regional languages, the environment and women's liberation, which caused her fame as being "Red Nelly".