Paul Janson
Encyclopedia
Paul Janson was a Belgian
liberal
politician.
Born in Herstal
, Janson studied philosophy and law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
. From an early age he was a strong supporter of electoral reform and stood on the progressive wing of the Belgian liberal movement
. A modern study suggests that only "his visceral rejection of the class struggle
" kept him from the burgeoning socialist movement.
Janson was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Liberal Party
in 1877, but was not re-elected in 1884. That year he became a local councillor in Brussels
. Re-elected in 1889, he continued to agitate for universal suffrage, having established the Fédération progressiste
of liberals who shared this, and other progressive goals. Universal male suffrage, albeit with plural vote, was introduced in 1893.
In his later years he favoured electoral co-operation with the Socialist Party
. He was appointed an honorary Minister of State
on 14 August 1912.
Paul Janson was the father of future Prime Minister of Belgium Paul-Émile Janson
and Marie Janson
(later Spaak), first female member of the Belgian parliament, mother of Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak
.
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...
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,...
politician.
Born in Herstal
Herstal
Herstal, formerly known as Heristal, or Héristal, is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege along the Meuse river. Herstal is included in the "Greater Liège" agglomeration, which counts about 600,000 inhabitants...
, Janson studied philosophy and law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
. From an early age he was a strong supporter of electoral reform and stood on the progressive wing of the Belgian liberal movement
Liberalism in Belgium
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Belgium. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
. A modern study suggests that only "his visceral rejection of the class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
" kept him from the burgeoning socialist movement.
Janson was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Belgium)
The Liberal Party was a Belgian political party that existed from 1846 until 1961, when it became the Party for Freedom and Progress, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès or PVV-PLP, under the leadership of Omer Vanaudenhove.-History:The Liberal Party was founded...
in 1877, but was not re-elected in 1884. That year he became a local councillor in 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...
. Re-elected in 1889, he continued to agitate for universal suffrage, having established the Fédération progressiste
Progressive Party (Belgium)
The Progressive Party of Belgium was a progressive Liberal party which existed from 1887 until 1900.-History:After the defeat of the Liberal party in the general elections of 1884 the doctrinarian faction continued to dominate the Belgian Liberal party. However, the progressistes or radicals no...
of liberals who shared this, and other progressive goals. Universal male suffrage, albeit with plural vote, was introduced in 1893.
In his later years he favoured electoral co-operation with the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Belgium)
The following Socialist Parties exist in Belgium:* Left Socialist Party - Linkse Socialistische Partij/Parti Socialiste de Lutte * Parti Socialiste * Socialistische Partij Anders, Socialist Party Differently -See also:...
. He 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...
on 14 August 1912.
Paul Janson was the father of future Prime Minister of Belgium 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...
and 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....
(later Spaak), first female member of the Belgian parliament, mother of Prime Minister 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...
.