Antoinette Spaak
Encyclopedia
Antoinette M. Spaak, born in Brussels
on 27 June 1928, is a Belgian
politician.
Daughter of former Prime Minister of Belgium Paul-Henri Spaak
, granddaughter of the first female member of the Belgian Senate
Marie Janson
, and great-niece of Prime Minister Paul-Émile Janson
, Spaak was born into a leading Belgian political family.
After the death of her father, she joined the Democratic Front of Francophones
(FDF), rising to become the leader of the party from 1977 to 1982, the first Belgian woman to lead a political party. She was a member of the European Parliament
from 1977 to 1982, and again from 1994 to 1999.
She headed the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium
from 1988 to 1992. In the 1990s, together with Jean Gol
and Louis Michel
, she was in the vanguard of the movement which led to the fusion of the FDF, the Liberal Reformist Party
(PRL), and the Citizens' Movement for Change
(MCC), to create the Reformist Movement
(MR).
She was appointed an honorary Minister of State
in 1983.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
on 27 June 1928, 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.
Daughter of former Prime Minister of Belgium Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul Henri Charles Spaak was a Belgian Socialist politician and statesman.-Early life:Paul-Henri Spaak was born on 25 January 1899 in Schaerbeek, Belgium, to a distinguished Belgian family. His grandfather, Paul Janson was an important member of the Liberal Party...
, granddaughter of the first female member of the Belgian Senate
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:...
Marie Janson
Marie Janson
Marie Janson was a Belgian politician and the first woman to serve in the Belgian senate. She was a daughter of Paul Janson and Anna-Augustine Amoré....
, and great-niece of Prime Minister Paul-Émile Janson
Paul-Emile Janson
Paul-Emile Janson was a Belgian liberal politician.Born in Brussels, Janson was the son of liberal statesman Paul Janson . He studied law at the Free University of Brussels , practised as a lawyer, and also taught at the university...
, Spaak was born into a leading Belgian political family.
After the death of her father, she joined the Democratic Front of Francophones
Democratic Front of Francophones
The Francophone Democratic Federalists , is a Francophone political party based in Brussels, Belgium founded on 11 May 1964. Until 1982, the FDF dominated Brussels' municipal politics. It is led by Deputy Olivier Maingain....
(FDF), rising to become the leader of the party from 1977 to 1982, the first Belgian woman to lead a political party. She was a member of 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...
from 1977 to 1982, and again from 1994 to 1999.
She headed the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium
French Community of Belgium
The French Community of Belgium is one of the three official communities in Belgium along with the Flemish Community and the German speaking Community. Although its name could suggest that it is a community of French citizens in Belgium, it is not...
from 1988 to 1992. In the 1990s, together with Jean Gol
Jean Gol
Jean Gol was a Belgian politician for the liberal party Parti Réformateur Libéral and a freemason...
and Louis Michel
Louis Michel
Louis H. O. Ch. Michel is a Belgian politician. He served in the government of Belgium as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2004 and was European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid from 2004 to 2009. Since 2009, he has been a Member of the European Parliament...
, she was in the vanguard of the movement which led to the fusion of the FDF, the Liberal Reformist Party
Liberal Reformist Party
The Parti Réformateur Libéral was a Belgian liberal party active in Wallonia and Brussels. It grew out of the unitiarian PVV-PLP and has since become part of the Mouvement Réformateur.-PVV-PLP:* Omer Vanaudenhove 1961 - 1968...
(PRL), and the Citizens' Movement for Change
Citizens' Movement for Change
Citizens' Movement for Change is a Christian Democratic political party in the French Community of Belgium founded by Gérard Deprez. It is a component of the Mouvement Réformateur....
(MCC), to create the Reformist Movement
Reformist Movement
The Reformist Movement is a French-speaking liberal political party in Belgium. The party was in coalition as part of the Leterme II Government, and was also part of the governing coalition in the Walloon Region and Brussels-Capital Region until the 2004 regional elections...
(MR).
She was appointed an honorary 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...
in 1983.