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Guy Verhofstadt pronunciation (help·
info) (born April 11, 1953) is a Belgian politician, municipal councillor in Ghent and current Prime Minister of Belgium.
Image File history File links Belgian_prime_minister_Guy_Verhofstadt. ...
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Belgium, known regionally as: Premier Ministre in French, Eerste Minister in Dutch, and Premierminister in German. ...
The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ...
July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 172 days remaining. ...
1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...
Jean-Luc Dehaene (born August 7, 1940) is a Flemish (Belgian) politician. ...
April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ...
1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...
Dendermonde (French: Termonde) is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. ...
The Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten or VLD (Flemish Liberals and Democrats) is a Flemish liberal party, created in 1992 from the former PVV and a few other politicians from other parties. ...
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April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ...
1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...
Geography Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province East Flanders Arrondissement Ghent Coordinates Area 156. ...
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Belgium, known regionally as: Premier Ministre in French, Eerste Minister in Dutch, and Premierminister in German. ...
Early career
Born in 1953 in Dendermonde, he became president of the Flemish Liberal Student's Union (1972-1974) while studying law in Ghent. He quickly became the secretary of Willy De Clercq, who was at that time the president of the Flemish liberal party (PVV). In 1982, at age 29, he became president of the party. In 1985 he was elected into the Chamber of Deputies, and became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget under Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Because of his economic views and his young age, he became known as "Baby Thatcher". Another nickname from that era is "da joenk", a Brabantian dialect expression meaning "that kid" (in a pejorative sense, referring to his rather iconoclastic and immature style). 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...
Dendermonde (French: Termonde) is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. ...
Lady Justice or Justitia is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system (particularly in Western art). ...
Geography Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province East Flanders Arrondissement Ghent Coordinates Area 156. ...
Willy De Clercq (Ghent, 8 July 1927) is a Belgian liberal politician. ...
Wilfried Martens listen? (born 19 April 1936) is a Flemish (Belgian) politician. ...
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), is a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ...
Brabantian or Brabantic (Dutch: Brabants) is a dialect of the Dutch language spoken in Noord-Brabant and in the Belgian provinces of Antwerpen and Vlaams-Brabant and small parts in the west of Limburg. ...
After being ousted from government he became leader of the opposition. After a failed attempt to form a government in November 1991, he changed the PVV into the Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD). This new party attracted many politicians from other parties, notably from the Volksunie (VU) and the Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP). The Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten or VLD (Flemish Liberals and Democrats) is a Flemish liberal party, created in 1992 from the former PVV and a few other politicians from other parties. ...
The Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (New-Flemish Alliance) is a Belgian political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. ...
Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic and Flemish) is a political party in Belgium, formerly called Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP) (Christian Peoples Party). ...
However, despite the fact that many had high expectations, the party did not manage to outstrip the CVP. Verhofstadt resigned and disappeared from the political scene, only to return to the party's presidency in 1997 with a less radical image. He gradually moved away from neo-liberalism, and became more of a centrist figure, a change which especially became clear during his first term as Prime Minister. Many concur that his shift of gear was a necessary transition, as his ambitions to become Prime Minister required a milder attitude. He himself has never admitted, but insiders claim that he still regrets having had to take a distance from his original, real views. The term neoliberalism is used to describe a political-economic philosophy that had major implications for government policies beginning in the 1970s – and increasingly prominent since 1980 – that de-emphasizes or rejects positive government intervention in the economy, focusing instead on achieving progress and even social justice by...
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The Kingdom of Belgium is a sovereign, independent state. ...
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view • talk • edit | Partly because of a food scandal that broke out just before the 1999 elections, the VLD became the largest party in the country, obtaining over 22% in Flanders. He quickly formed a coalition with the socialist and the green party in Flanders, and with the French speaking counterparts of these parties (a symmetric coalition) in Brussels and Wallonia. He was appointed Prime Minister on July 12, 1999. It was the first Belgian government without the Christian-democrats since 1958, and the first one with the green parties. Successive Belgian kings are 1831-1865: Léopold I (34) 1865-1909: Léopold II (44) 1909-1934: Albert I (25) 1934-1951: Léopold III (16) 1944-1950: Charles, reigned as Prince Regent 1951-1993: Baudouin I (42) Since 1993: Albert II (13) None of these were King of...
Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Chrétien Eugène Marie), (born June 6, 1934), is the current King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. ...
The executive branch of the Belgian federal government consists of ministers and secretaries of state (junior ministers or smaller departments) drawn from the political parties which form the government coalition. ...
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Belgium, known regionally as: Premier Ministre in French, Eerste Minister in Dutch, and Premierminister in German. ...
The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. ...
The Belgian Senate (Dutch: de Senaat, French: le Sénat) is one of the two chambers of the Belgian Federal Parliament. ...
The Belgian Chamber of Representatives (Dutch: de Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French: la Chambre des Représentants) is one of the two chambers of the Belgian Federal Parliament. ...
Belgium has a multi-party political system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. ...
Elections in Belgium gives information on election and election results in Belgium. ...
The May 18, 2003 Belgian general elections were the first Belgian elections to be held under a new electoral code. ...
The next Belgian general election is scheduled to take place on Sunday June 24, 2007. ...
On June 13, 2004, regional elections were held in Belgium, to choose representatives in the regional councils of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels, as well as in the German Community Council. ...
The Belgian municipal elections, 2000 took place on Sunday October 8, 2000. ...
The Belgian municipal elections, 2006 took place on Sunday October 8, 2006. ...
Administrative division. ...
Belgium is a federal state and is composed of three communities, three regions, and four linguistic regions. ...
The European Union or EU is a supranational and international organization of 27 member states. ...
The Concert of Europe sanctioned the creation of Belgium in 1830 on the condition that the country remain strictly neutral. ...
Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ...
Flanders (Dutch: ) has several main meanings: the social, cultural and linguistical, scientific and educational, economical and political community of the Flemings; generally called the Flemish community (others refer to this as the Flemish nation) which is, with over 6 million inhabitants, the majority of all Belgians; the constituent governing institution...
July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 172 days remaining. ...
1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...
The economic situation gave him leeway in raising the lowest social alimonies and lowering taxation. After 2001, the economic situation worsened. The 'Ageing Fund' or 'Silver Fund' was set up, in order to ensure the maintenance of the retirement pays until 2030. But despite his efforts to boost the economy while attempting to maintain the social benefits system, unemployment rose, after dropping during the second Dehaene cabinet. Jean-Luc Dehaene (born August 7, 1940) is a Flemish (Belgian) politician. ...
Much to the disapproval of his coalition partners, Verhofstadt and his VLD opposed granting the right to vote to non-EU-residents. Instead, they proposed and were able to liberalize procedure for obtaining Belgian citizenship.
During the prelude to the Iraq crisis of 2003, Belgium joined France, Germany and Russia in their opposition against the invasion. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Verhofstadt II Following the 2003 general elections, Verhofstadt formed his second cabinet without the green parties, who were virtually annihilated in the election. For various reasons, the formation of the second government was delayed well beyond normal: the economic situation worsened to 1999 levels, both politically similar parties (liberals and socialists) gained approximately the same seats. Additionally, the various world governments were pressing for the abolition of the law of universal competence (also known as the "genocide law"), which gave Belgian judges the authority to accuse and sentence non-Belgians with crimes against humanity. Accusations that were made had rarely been followed up, and were often dismissed as being little more than politically motivated international insults. Verhofstadt's second government was sworn in on July 12, 2003, with both coalition partners having agreed to abolish the so-called "genocide law" and replace it with a much weaker one. The May 18, 2003 Belgian general elections were the first Belgian elections to be held under a new electoral code. ...
This article is in need of attention. ...
July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 172 days remaining. ...
2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
In the Flemish regional elections of June 13, 2004, his party lost votes, slipping into third place in Flanders. Though this has had no direct impact upon his position as Prime Minister, there were rumours that the Christian-Democratic party (CD&V) that won the elections, would participate in federal government. Verhofstadt was suggested as a candidate to replace Romano Prodi as the next President of the European Commission, but his candidacy was opposed and rejected by a coalition led by Tony Blair and Silvio Berlusconi. Flanders (Dutch: ) has several main meanings: the social, cultural and linguistical, scientific and educational, economical and political community of the Flemings; generally called the Flemish community (others refer to this as the Flemish nation) which is, with over 6 million inhabitants, the majority of all Belgians; the constituent governing institution...
June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ...
2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Flanders (Dutch: ) has several main meanings: the social, cultural and linguistical, scientific and educational, economical and political community of the Flemings; generally called the Flemish community (others refer to this as the Flemish nation) which is, with over 6 million inhabitants, the majority of all Belgians; the constituent governing institution...
(born 9 August 1939) is a centre-left Italian politician. ...
The Commission seat in Brussels The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive body of the European Union. ...
For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency...
(born September 29, 1936) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor. ...
Since then, Verhofstadt has been faced with internal crisis after crisis. The first crisis coming to a head in the autumn of 2004 was the question whether DHL would invest in Brussels Airport, located in the Flemish municipality of Zaventem. The question which nearly caused the collapse of the cabinet was whether to grant DHL extra landing rights during the night, this being a hot topic of public debate and various court cases. In the end the split between employment and night rest was for nought as DHL had only used the Zaventem option in order to get better conditions from Leipzig. A DHL Boeing 757 A DHL Sprinter van DHL Boat in Venice DHL Truck in Singapore DHL boat in Amsterdam, carrying DHL bicycles aboard DHL is a Deutsche Post company that provides international shipping of documents and freight as well as contract logistics. ...
Brussels Airport (IATA: BRU, ICAO: EBBR) (also called in Dutch: Luchthaven Zaventem or in French: Aéroport de Zaventem), also Zaventem Airport or Brussels (Zaventem) International Airport, was formerly known as Brussel Nationaal/Bruxelles-National (Brussels National). ...
Geography Country Belgium Region Flemish Region Community Flemish Community Province Flemish Brabant Arrondissement Halle-Vilvoorde Coordinates Area 27. ...
[] (Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk) is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony in Germany with a population of over 504,000. ...
After the DHL crisis, Verhofstadt was faced with a communautary crisis with regard to dividing the administrative arrondissement Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. The dividing was an issue that the parties forming the Flemish regional government had written in their government agreement. This caused a veto to be posed by the Walloon parties. The crisis dragged on until spring 2005 when the matter was shelved until after the federal elections of 2007 as the Flemish parties forming the government, given the for them disastrous opinion polls, didn't have the nerve to collapse the government.
In the autumn of 2005, Verhofstadt managed to score a success when he was able to negotiate a "Generation Pact" with regard to employment and social reforms, regardless of the opposition and actions of the unions.
Verhofstadt was sworn in as municipal councillor in Ghent in January 2007, as a result of the 2006 municipal elections. In the council, he is seated next to another cabinet minister, Freya Van den Bossche, who was elected a municipal councillor as well. The Belgian municipal elections, 2006 took place on Sunday October 8, 2006. ...
Freya Van den Bossche (born March 26, 1975 in Ghent, Belgium) is a Belgian, Flemish politician. ...
See also Dirk Verhofstadt (born 1955) is a Belgian liberal (Rawlsian) theorist and brother of the Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. ...
The United States of Europe is a name given to one version of the hypothetical unification scenarios of Europe, as a sovereign federation of states, similar to the United States of America, both as projected by writers of speculative fiction and by political scientists and politicians. ...
External links - Official web site of the Prime Minister of Belgium, available in Dutch and French
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