André Cools
Encyclopedia
André H.P. Cools was a Belgian
socialist
politician
who died by assassination.
minister from 1968 to 1971, Deputy Prime Minister
from 1969 to 1972, head of the Belgian Socialist Party from 1973 to 1978, head of the Parti Socialiste
from 1978 to 1981, president of the Walloon Council from 1982 to 1985, and minister of the government of the Walloon Region from 1988 to 1990. He was also given the honorific title of Minister of State (Belgium)
in 1983. In 1990 he retired from the national political scene after an internal power struggle within the PS but he remained influenc\tial in the PS party in Liège.
Cools was noted for his pithy pronouncements. For example, when in 1984 he commented on who he thought the four greatest United States
' President
s had been, he said: 'Roosevelt
, Roosevelt, Roosevelt and Roosevelt'.
His nickname
was "Le maître de Flémalle
" (Flémalle's master). Cools had been mayor of Flémalle-Haute from 1964 to 1977 and after the merger from Flémalle from 1977 until his death.
While the police were investigating the assassination, several scandals involving André Cools became public (like the Agusta-affair
).
In 2003, a Liège trial started, accusing Richard Taxquet (former personal chauffeur and secretary for Alain Van der Biest, a Parti Socialiste minister), Giuseppe "Pino" di Mauro, and others of involvement in the Cools murder. In January 2004, Taxquet and di Mauro were sentenced to twenty years imprisonment. Van der Biest, who was briefly incarcerated as a murder suspect, committed suicide in 2002.
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...
socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who died by assassination.
Political career
Cools had a long and distinguished political career. He was Belgian budgetBudget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
minister from 1968 to 1971, Deputy Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
from 1969 to 1972, head of the Belgian Socialist Party from 1973 to 1978, head of the Parti Socialiste
Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)
The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party...
from 1978 to 1981, president of the Walloon Council from 1982 to 1985, and minister of the government of the Walloon Region from 1988 to 1990. He was also given the honorific title of Minister of State (Belgium)
Minister of State (Belgium)
The Minister of State is an honorary title in Belgium. It is formally granted by the Belgian monarch, but on the initiative of the Belgian federal government. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is granted for exceptional merits, generally to...
in 1983. In 1990 he retired from the national political scene after an internal power struggle within the PS but he remained influenc\tial in the PS party in Liège.
Cools was noted for his pithy pronouncements. For example, when in 1984 he commented on who he thought the four greatest United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
s had been, he said: 'Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, Roosevelt, Roosevelt and Roosevelt'.
His nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
was "Le maître de Flémalle
Flémalle
Flémalle is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liége. On January 1, 2006 Flémalle had a total population of 25,140. The total area is 36.68 km² which gives a population density of 685 inhabitants per km².-Subdivisions:...
" (Flémalle's master). Cools had been mayor of Flémalle-Haute from 1964 to 1977 and after the merger from Flémalle from 1977 until his death.
Assassination and aftermath
He was shot dead in Liège in 1991.While the police were investigating the assassination, several scandals involving André Cools became public (like the Agusta-affair
Agusta scandal
The Agusta scandal or the Case Agusta-Dassault was a Belgian corruption scandal. It resulted from the purchase of military helicopter of the Agusta A109 Agusta-type by the Belgian Army in 1988, where Agusta and Dassault bribed various office holders...
).
In 2003, a Liège trial started, accusing Richard Taxquet (former personal chauffeur and secretary for Alain Van der Biest, a Parti Socialiste minister), Giuseppe "Pino" di Mauro, and others of involvement in the Cools murder. In January 2004, Taxquet and di Mauro were sentenced to twenty years imprisonment. Van der Biest, who was briefly incarcerated as a murder suspect, committed suicide in 2002.
See also
- Belgian political scandalsBelgian political scandalsThis is a list of political scandals in Belgium:* Guy Jespers affair * KS affair * Marc Dutroux affair * Albert Canal pipeline affair * Superclub affair * Cools assassination...
- Parliamentary inquiries by the Belgian Federal ParliamentParliamentary inquiries by the Belgian Federal ParliamentBoth Chambers of the Federal Parliament, the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, have the right to conduct parliamentary inquiries pursuant to article 56 of the Belgian Constitution, which provides that "Each Chamber has the right of inquiry"...
- 1960-1961 Winter General Strike1960-1961 Winter General Strike1960–1961 Winter General Strike was the most important strike of the 20th century in Belgium and was called the Strike of the Century. Its triggering factor was Eyskens' government introducing a number of austerity policies under the general name Loi unique...
Source
- André Cools (in French)