Patrick Dewael (original) (raw)
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Belgian politician (born 1955)
| Patrick Dewael | |
|---|---|
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| President of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| In office27 June 2019 – 13 October 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Siegfried Bracke |
| Succeeded by | Eliane Tillieux |
| In office30 June 2014 – 14 October 2014 | |
| Preceded by | André Flahaut |
| Succeeded by | Siegfried Bracke |
| In office31 December 2008 – 19 July 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Herman Van Rompuy |
| Succeeded by | André Flahaut |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office12 July 2003 – 22 December 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Guy VerhofstadtYves Leterme |
| Preceded by | Antoine Duquesne |
| Succeeded by | Guido De Padt |
| Minister-President of Flanders | |
| In office13 July 1999 – 5 June 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Luc Van den Brande |
| Succeeded by | Renaat Landuyt (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1955-10-13) 13 October 1955 (age 70)Lier, Belgium |
| Political party | Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats |
| Alma mater | Free University of Brussels |
Patrick Yvonne Hugo Dewael (Dutch: [ˈpɛtrɪɡ dəˈʋaːl];[a] born 13 October 1955) is a liberal Belgian politician. A member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten, VLD), he served as Minister-President of Flanders from 1999 to 2003.
He is the nephew of the late Herman Vanderpoorten and the cousin of Marleen Vanderpoorten, who served as Minister of Education in the Flemish Government led by Dewael. He obtained a degree in law and notariat from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels. Dewael served as the President of the Chamber of Representatives from 2019 to 2020 and previously from 2008 to 2010.
He was first elected to the Belgian Parliament in 1985. From 1985 to 1992 Dewael served for the PVV as Flemish minister of Culture in the governments led by Gaston Geens (II, III and IV). After the defeat of the liberals at the 1992 elections, Dewael served as an opposition MP until the liberals regained power in 1999.
He was Minister-President of the regional government of Flanders from 1999 to 2003. After the Federal elections of 2003, Dewael resigned as minister-president in order to serve as deputy prime minister and minister of the interior in the Belgian Federal government led by Guy Verhofstadt.
When Kurdish militant Fehriye Erdal was sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment by a Bruges court on 28 February 2006, it turned out that she had shaken off the Belgian secret service, which had had the responsibility of following her since 23 February 2006 (Erdal had been under house arrest since 2000). Both the Minister of Justice, Laurette Onkelinx, and the Minister of the Interior, Patrick Dewael came under fire for this incident.
He was deputy prime minister and minister for interior in the Leterme I Government, which took office on 20 March 2008.[1] On 31 December 2008, he became president of the Chamber of Representatives. He was replaced as interior minister by Guido De Padt.
Patrick Dewael lives in Tongeren, a town of which he is also the mayor.
Patrick Dewael was married to Marleen Van Doren, with whom he has three children. On 24 August 2005 Dewael released a press communiqué in which he announced that he was leaving his wife for VRT journalist Greet Op de Beeck [nl]. On 19 July 2019 he married Op de Beeck.[2]
- 2014 : Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Leopold II.[3]
- 2002 : Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, decree of 14 October 2002[4]
^ "20 March 2008 – Royal Orders. Government – Dismissals – Appointments" (PDF) (in Dutch and French). The Belgian Official Journal. 21 March 2008. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
^ Kamervoorzitter Patrick Dewael en Greet Op De Beeck in besloten kring getrouwd(in Dutch)
^ "Koninklijk Besluit nationale orden bij koninklijke besluiten van 26 mei 2014 zijn de hierna vermelde leden van het europees parlement bevorderd of benoemd : leopoldsorde grootofficier mevr. durant isabelle, ondervoorzitster van het europees parlement r de heer belet ivo".
^ web, Segretariato generale della Presidenza della Repubblica-Servizio sistemi informatici- reparto. "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana".
- Patrick Dewael (Official website)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byLuc Van den Brande | Minister-President of Flanders 1999–2003 | Succeeded byBart Somers |
| Preceded byAntoine Duquesne | Minister of the Interior 2003–2008 | Succeeded byGuido De Padt |
| Preceded byHerman Van Rompuy | President of the Chamber of Representatives 2008–2010 | Succeeded byAndré Flahaut |
| Preceded byAndré Flahaut | President of the Chamber of Representatives 2014 | Succeeded bySiegfried Bracke |
| Preceded bySiegfried Bracke | President of the Chamber of Representatives 2019–2020 | Succeeded byEliane Tillieux |