Paul Vanden Boeynants
Encyclopedia
Paul Emile François Henri Vanden Boeynants (pɒˑu̯l vɑndənˈbuɪ̯nɑnts) (22 May 1919 – 9 January 2001) was a Belgian
politician
. He served as the 41st Prime Minister of Belgium for two brief periods (1966–68 and 1978–79).
Vanden Boeynants (called "VDB" by journalists) was born in Forest
/ Vorst
, a municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region. Active as a businessman in the meat industry, he was a Representative for the PSC-CVP
between 1949 and 1979. From 1961 to 1966 he led the PSC-CVP (which was in those days a single party). In 1966, he became Prime Minister of Belgium; he stayed in this post for two years. Later in 1978, he led another Belgian government which lasted until 1979. He left politics in 1995, and died of pneumonia
after undergoing cardiovascular surgery in 2001.
. He underwent a political rehabilitation during the early 1990s.
, demanding 30 million Belgian francs in ransom. Vanden Boeynants was released (physically unharmed) a month later, on 13 February, when an undisclosed ransom was paid to the perpetrators. Patrick Haemers
, head of the gang, later committed suicide in prison, although two members of his gang managed to escape from the St-Gillis Prison in 1993.
Some famous words of his, in a unique mixture of Dutch and French are:
"Trop is te veel en Te veel is trop". ("too much is too much and too much is too much"
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as the 41st Prime Minister of Belgium for two brief periods (1966–68 and 1978–79).
Vanden Boeynants (called "VDB" by journalists) was born in Forest
Forest, Belgium
Forest or Vorst is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The town is commonly known for its concert hall...
/ Vorst
Forest, Belgium
Forest or Vorst is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The town is commonly known for its concert hall...
, a municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region. Active as a businessman in the meat industry, he was a Representative for the PSC-CVP
Christian Social Party (Belgium, defunct)
The Christian Social Party was a Belgian Catholic political party, which existed from 1945 until 1968.-History:At the end of World War II, on 18–19 August 1945 the Christelijke Volkspartij-Parti Social Chrétien was founded under the presidency of August de Schryver as the successor to the...
between 1949 and 1979. From 1961 to 1966 he led the PSC-CVP (which was in those days a single party). In 1966, he became Prime Minister of Belgium; he stayed in this post for two years. Later in 1978, he led another Belgian government which lasted until 1979. He left politics in 1995, and died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
after undergoing cardiovascular surgery in 2001.
Fraud
Convicted in 1986 for fraud and tax evasion, Vanden Boeynants escaped jail but was sentenced to three years' probation. This prevented him from pursuing mayoral aspirations in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He underwent a political rehabilitation during the early 1990s.
Kidnapping
In a bizarre political incident that is still the subject of dispute, Vanden Boeynants was kidnapped on 14 January 1989 by members of the Haemers criminal gang. Three days later, the criminals published a note in the leading Brussels newspaper Le SoirLe Soir
Le Soir is a Berliner Format Belgian newspaper. Le Soir was founded in 1887 by Emile Rossel. It is the most popular Francophone newspaper in Belgium, and considered a newspaper of record.-Editorial stance:...
, demanding 30 million Belgian francs in ransom. Vanden Boeynants was released (physically unharmed) a month later, on 13 February, when an undisclosed ransom was paid to the perpetrators. Patrick Haemers
Patrick Haemers
Patrick Haemers was a Belgian criminal. He was head of the gang which kidnapped former Belgian prime minister Paul Vanden Boeynants from January 14, 1989 to February 13, 1989...
, head of the gang, later committed suicide in prison, although two members of his gang managed to escape from the St-Gillis Prison in 1993.
Some famous words of his, in a unique mixture of Dutch and French are:
"Trop is te veel en Te veel is trop". ("too much is too much and too much is too much"