Steve Stevaert
Encyclopedia
Steve Stevaert (ˈstif ˈsteː.vaːrt) (born 12 April 1954 in Rijkhoven
as Robert Stevaert [ˈroː.bərt ˈsteː.vaːrt]) is a Belgian
politician
of the Flemish Socialist Party: the SP.A.
After his studies at the "Hoger Rijksinstituut voor Toerisme, Hotelwezen en Voedingsbedrijven", Stevaert started as a bar owner in 1972. He became politically active in 1982 under the wings of his mentor Willy Claes
. Stevaert was elected to the Provincial Council of Limburg from 1985 to 1995.
He became mayor and member of the city council of Hasselt
in 1995. There he became famous for his policy of free public transport in 1997, which gave him his nickname "Steve Stunt". Stevaert was in 1995 also elected to the Flemish parliament
and was re-elected in 1999 and 2004.
Stevaert served as Flemish minister of Public Works, Transport and Spatial planning from 1998 to 1999 and as Flemish minister of Mobility, Transport and Public Works from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned having become chairman of his party, succeeding Patrick Janssens
.
He was chairman from 2003 until he resigned on 25 May 2005, having been appointed governor of the province Limburg
, in which function he succeeded governor Hilde Houben-Bertrand
. He became the 15th governor, and also the first 'socialist' governor of this province. Caroline Gennez
succeeded him as temporary chairman, until Johan Vande Lanotte
became officially elected as the new chairman in October 2005. On June 9, 2009, the day of the Flemish regional elections, Stevaert announced he would step down as governor. He was succeeded by his fellow socialist Herman Reynders
One of Steve's "stunts" was selling the Belgian electricity company Electrabel to France. Since then, Belgians are totally dependent on France for their electricity, and have to pay the highest electricity fees of Europe.
Steve Stevaert was given the honorary title
of Minister of State
on 26 January 2004.
Next update: check this:
http://actua.canvas.be/panorama/deze-week/panorama-610-voor-wie-de-klok-luidt/
for more information.
Rijkhoven
Rijkhoven is a small village in the municipality of Bilzen, Belgium. There is a castle built near it called Alden Biesen. Once it was a part of the County of Loon....
as Robert Stevaert [ˈroː.bərt ˈsteː.vaːrt]) is a 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Flemish Socialist Party: the SP.A.
After his studies at the "Hoger Rijksinstituut voor Toerisme, Hotelwezen en Voedingsbedrijven", Stevaert started as a bar owner in 1972. He became politically active in 1982 under the wings of his mentor Willy Claes
Willy Claes
Willem Werner Hubert "Willy" Claes was the eighth Secretary General of NATO and a Belgian politician. He was a member of the Flemish Socialist Party....
. Stevaert was elected to the Provincial Council of Limburg from 1985 to 1995.
He became mayor and member of the city council of Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
in 1995. There he became famous for his policy of free public transport in 1997, which gave him his nickname "Steve Stunt". Stevaert was in 1995 also elected to 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...
and was re-elected in 1999 and 2004.
Stevaert served as Flemish minister of Public Works, Transport and Spatial planning from 1998 to 1999 and as Flemish minister of Mobility, Transport and Public Works from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned having become chairman of his party, succeeding Patrick Janssens
Patrick Janssens
Patrick Janssens is a Belgian politician, born on 19 September 1956. He is a member of the SP.a and currently mayor of the port city Antwerp.- Career :...
.
He was chairman from 2003 until he resigned on 25 May 2005, having been appointed governor of the province Limburg
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 which function he succeeded governor Hilde Houben-Bertrand
Hilde Houben-Bertrand
Hilde Houben-Bertrand is a Belgian politician of the Christian Democratic and Flemish Party . She is best known for being a former governor of the Belgian province Limburg.- References :...
. He became the 15th governor, and also the first 'socialist' governor of this province. Caroline Gennez
Caroline Gennez
Caroline Gennez is a Belgian socialist politician and a former chairwoman of the Socialist Party – Different in Flanders.-Biography:...
succeeded him as temporary chairman, until Johan Vande Lanotte
Johan Vande Lanotte
Johan Cyrille Corneel Vande Lanotte is a Belgian politician. He is a member of the SP.A, and became its party president on 15 October 2005...
became officially elected as the new chairman in October 2005. On June 9, 2009, the day of the Flemish regional elections, Stevaert announced he would step down as governor. He was succeeded by his fellow socialist Herman Reynders
One of Steve's "stunts" was selling the Belgian electricity company Electrabel to France. Since then, Belgians are totally dependent on France for their electricity, and have to pay the highest electricity fees of Europe.
Steve Stevaert was given the honorary title
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
of Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
on 26 January 2004.
Next update: check this:
http://actua.canvas.be/panorama/deze-week/panorama-610-voor-wie-de-klok-luidt/
for more information.