Roland Duchâtelet
Encyclopedia
Roland Duchâtelet is a Belgian businessman who turned his progressive liberal ideology into a political movement that he called Vivant
. He also chairs a notable soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V.. On 22 June 2011 he bought another club: Standard de Liège.
and economics
, and obtained an MBA at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
. During his student years he participated in the 1968 student revolts.
, which produces semi-conductors is most well known. Other corporations include X-Fab
, which also produces semi-conductors, Epiq, which produces electronic systems, the online-television channel TVLokaal.com, Melexis
and the holding
Elex. He became multimillionaire. He also manages the internet portal AdValvas.be. He also chairs the first division Belgian League soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V.
In 1994 he began to support the political party BANAAN or "Beter Alternatieven Nastreven Als Apathisch Nietsdoen" (Better seeking for alternatives than doing nothing in apathy") financially. This party was committed to a basic income
and a green tax shift. In the same year He wrote his political manifest "NV België, verslag aan de aandeelhouders" (Joint stock company Belgium, a report to the share holders). In his book, he pled for economic
and political
transparency. He emphasized the necessity of sustainable development
in a globalized world economy. He also proposed to lower Belgium's public expenditure by 30%
After the 1995 elections
in which BANAAN performed poorly, Duchâtelet founded the party/political movement Vivant
which entered in federal, regional and communal elections. Duchâtelet is party chair and has been candidate in every election.
In the movie "La vie politique des Belges" (2002) by Jan Bucquoy
, Duchâtelet is depicted in Vivant's 1999 election campaign
.
In 2004 Vivant entered a political alliance
with the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) and Duchâtelet published his second book "De weg naar meer netto binnenlands geluk" ("The road to more net domestic happiness").
In 2007 his party merged with the VLD, which entered in the next elections as Open VLD. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate
in 2007.
Vivant
Vivant is a small Belgian social liberal party founded by millionaire Roland Duchâtelet. In the regional elections in June 2004, the party formed a strategic alliance with the Flemish Liberals and Democrats . Both parties are founded on the principle of individualism and can be called liberal...
. He also chairs a notable soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V.. On 22 June 2011 he bought another club: Standard de Liège.
Education
Duchâtelet studied civil engineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, and obtained an MBA at the Katholieke Universiteit 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...
. During his student years he participated in the 1968 student revolts.
Career
In 1990 he became involved in micro-electronics, while he worked for Xtrion. He founded several multinational corporations, of which MelexisMelexis
Melexis N.V. is a Belgian-based manufacturer of smart mixed-signal semiconductors integrated circuits, integrated sensors and systems .- Activities & Products :...
, which produces semi-conductors is most well known. Other corporations include X-Fab
X-Fab
The X-FAB Silicon Foundries is a group of semiconductor foundries, with headquarters in Erfurt...
, which also produces semi-conductors, Epiq, which produces electronic systems, the online-television channel TVLokaal.com, Melexis
Melexis
Melexis N.V. is a Belgian-based manufacturer of smart mixed-signal semiconductors integrated circuits, integrated sensors and systems .- Activities & Products :...
and the holding
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
Elex. He became multimillionaire. He also manages the internet portal AdValvas.be. He also chairs the first division Belgian League soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V.
In 1994 he began to support the political party BANAAN or "Beter Alternatieven Nastreven Als Apathisch Nietsdoen" (Better seeking for alternatives than doing nothing in apathy") financially. This party was committed to a basic income
Basic income
A basic income guarantee is a proposed system of social security, that regularly provides each citizen with a sum of money. In contrast to income redistribution between nations themselves, the phrase basic income defines payments to individuals rather than households, groups, or nations, in order...
and a green tax shift. In the same year He wrote his political manifest "NV België, verslag aan de aandeelhouders" (Joint stock company Belgium, a report to the share holders). In his book, he pled for economic
Transparency (market)
In economics, a market is transparent if much is known by many about:* What products, services or capital assets are available.* What price.* Where....
and political
Transparency (humanities)
Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the humanities and in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparency is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed...
transparency. He emphasized the necessity of sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
in a globalized world economy. He also proposed to lower Belgium's public expenditure by 30%
After the 1995 elections
Belgian general election, 1995
The 21 May 1995 Belgian general elections was a Belgian election for the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Belgian Senate. The Christian People's Party won the elections, and Jean-Luc Dehaene continued as Prime Minister.-Senate:...
in which BANAAN performed poorly, Duchâtelet founded the party/political movement Vivant
Vivant
Vivant is a small Belgian social liberal party founded by millionaire Roland Duchâtelet. In the regional elections in June 2004, the party formed a strategic alliance with the Flemish Liberals and Democrats . Both parties are founded on the principle of individualism and can be called liberal...
which entered in federal, regional and communal elections. Duchâtelet is party chair and has been candidate in every election.
In the movie "La vie politique des Belges" (2002) by Jan Bucquoy
Jan Bucquoy
Jan Bucquoy is an anarchist and author-filmmaker born in Harelbeke, Belgium who started as a theatre practitioner and who worked as a cartoon-scriptwriter.-Career:...
, Duchâtelet is depicted in Vivant's 1999 election campaign
Belgian general election, 1999
The June 13, 1999 Belgian general elections was a Belgian election for the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Belgian Senate. The federal general elections were held on the same day as the European elections and the regional elections. The Flemish Liberals and Democrats won the elections.The...
.
In 2004 Vivant entered a political alliance
Kartel
A kartel is the Dutch term for an electoral alliance between two or more parties in Belgium.In a system of proportional representation in which the country is divided in multiple electoral districts, such as Belgium the threshold to obtain one seat can be very high , which also favours larger parties...
with the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) and Duchâtelet published his second book "De weg naar meer netto binnenlands geluk" ("The road to more net domestic happiness").
In 2007 his party merged with the VLD, which entered in the next elections as Open VLD. He was elected as a 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:...
in 2007.
External links
Homepage of Vivant- The Political Life of the Belgians: Tart/Vivant