Patrick Dewael
Encyclopedia
Patrick Yvonne Hugo Dewael, (ˈpɑtrɪk dəˈwa.l, born 13 October 1955) in Lier, Belgium
is a liberal
Belgian
politician. He is a member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats
, or Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD). He is the nephew of the late liberal minister Herman Vanderpoorten and the cousin of Marleen Vanderpoorten
, who also served as Flemish minister of Education in the government led by Dewael. He obtained a degree in law and notariat from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
(Brussels
, Belgium
)
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 terrorist
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. On 31 December 2008, he became President of the Chamber of Representatives
. He was replaced as Interior Minister
by Guido De Padt.
.
Patrick Dewael is 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.
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Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
is a liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
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. He is a member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats
Flemish Liberals and Democrats
' , commonly known as Open VLD and also simply as the VLD, is a Flemish liberal political party in Belgium, created in 1992 from the former Party for Freedom and Progress and a few other politicians from other parties. The party led the government for three cabinets under Guy Verhofstadt from 1999...
, or Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD). He is the nephew of the late liberal minister Herman Vanderpoorten and the cousin of Marleen Vanderpoorten
Marleen Vanderpoorten
Marleen Caroline Valère Vanderpoorten is a Flemish politician and member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats . She is a daughter of Herman Vanderpoorten and a granddaughter of Arthur Vanderpoorten...
, who also served as Flemish minister of Education in the government led by Dewael. He obtained a degree in law and notariat from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
(Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
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...
)
Political career
He was first elected to the Belgian Parliament in 1985. From 1985 to 1992 Dewael served for the PVVParty for Freedom and Progress
The Party for Freedom and Progress was a liberal party in Belgium which existed from 1961 until 1992 and was the successor of the Liberal Party, which had roots dating back to 1846. It was succeeded in Flanders by the Flemish Liberals and Democrats and in Wallonia by the Parti Réformateur...
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
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...
led by Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt
Guy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who was the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He is currently a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.- Early career :...
.
When Kurdish terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
Fehriye Erdal
Fehriye Erdal
Fehriye Erdal is a female political activist of Kurdish origin from Turkey. She was one of the three DHKP-C members allegedly involved in the assassination of a Turkish businessman, Özdemir Sabancı and two of his employees on January 9, 1996 in Istanbul, Turkey. In 2008 however, she was acquitted...
was sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment by a Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
court on 28 February 2006, it turned out that she had shaken off the 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...
secret service
Secret service
A secret service describes a government agency, or the activities of a government agency, concerned with the gathering of intelligence data. The tasks and powers of a secret service can vary greatly from one country to another. For instance, a country may establish a secret service which has some...
, 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
Leterme I Government
The Leterme I Government was the federal government of Belgium from 20 March 2008 to 22 December 2008. It took office when the Flemish Christian democrat Yves Leterme was sworn in as Prime Minister...
, which took office on 20 March 2008. On 31 December 2008, he became President of the Chamber of Representatives
Chamber of Representatives
There are at several political assemblies known as the Chamber of Representatives. Each one forms the lower house of a bicameral legislature.*French Chamber of Representatives, the lower body of the French Parliament during the Hundred Days...
. He was replaced as Interior Minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
by Guido De Padt.
Private life
Patrick Dewael lives in Tongeren, a town of which he is also the mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Patrick Dewael is 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
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
journalist Greet Op de Beeck.
External links
- Patrick Dewael (Official website)
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