Jaak Gabriëls
Encyclopedia
Petrus Josephus Jacobus "Jaak" Gabriëls (born 22 September 1943) is a Belgian
politician and member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) ( or ). He graduated in 1965 at the Catholic University of Leuven
as Master of Philosophy and Arts. He started his political career as a Provincial Councillor for Limburg
from 1974 to 1977. In 1977 he became the Mayor of Bree
, which he still is today, and Member of the Chamber of Representatives. From 1995 to 1999 he was a Member of the Flemish Parliament
.
He was the leader of the People's Union
( or ) from 1986 to 1992 and was a founding member of the VLD. He also was Federal
Minister of Agriculture and middle class (from 1999 to 2001) and Flemish
Minister of Economy, Foreign Trade and Housing (from 2001 to 2003). He again became a Member of the Flemish Parliament
in 2003 and he became a Minister of State
in 2004.
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 and member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) ( or ). He graduated in 1965 at the Catholic University of Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
as Master of Philosophy and Arts. He started his political career as a Provincial Councillor for 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...
from 1974 to 1977. In 1977 he became the Mayor of Bree
Bree, Belgium
Bree is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Bree had a total population of 14,503. The total area is 64.96 km² which gives it a population density of 223 inhabitants per square km...
, which he still is today, and Member of the Chamber of Representatives. From 1995 to 1999 he was a Member of 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...
.
He was the leader of the People's Union
People's Union (Belgium)
People's Union was a Belgian political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists....
( or ) from 1986 to 1992 and was a founding member of the VLD. He also was Federal
Belgian federal government
The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
Minister of Agriculture and middle class (from 1999 to 2001) and Flemish
Politics of Flanders
Flanders is both a cultural community and an economic region within the Belgian state, and has significant autonomy.Historically, the contemporary Flemish community grew out of the Catholic southern part of the medieval XVII provinces of the Low Countries. The contemporary Belgian Flanders area...
Minister of Economy, Foreign Trade and Housing (from 2001 to 2003). He again became a Member of 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...
in 2003 and he became a 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 2004.