Willy Claes
Encyclopedia
Willem Werner Hubert "Willy" Claes (born 24 November 1938) was the eighth Secretary General
of NATO and a Belgian
politician
. He was a member of the Flemish Socialist Party.
Claes was born in Hasselt
, Belgium
. He graduated in political and diplomatic sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
(VUB).
Willy Claes began his political career in the Hasselt city council. In 1968, he was elected to the national parliament. In 1972, he entered the cabinet for the first time as minister of education. Between 1973 and 1992, he was minister of economic affairs of Belgium three separate times. He also served as deputy prime minister five times, and was an important negotiator in the formation of coalition governments during the 1980s.
Claes was foreign minister of Belgium
from 1992 until 1994, and secretary general of NATO from 1994 until 1995, when he resigned after the discovery of a bribe of over 50 million Belgian franc
s that was accepted during contract negotiations with Agusta helicopters
during the time he was minister of economic affairs. For that he was convicted in 1998, losing voting rights for five years.
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Secretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
of NATO and a 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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a member of the Flemish Socialist Party.
Claes was born in Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, 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...
. He graduated in political and diplomatic sciences at 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"...
(VUB).
Willy Claes began his political career in the Hasselt city council. In 1968, he was elected to the national parliament. In 1972, he entered the cabinet for the first time as minister of education. Between 1973 and 1992, he was minister of economic affairs of Belgium three separate times. He also served as deputy prime minister five times, and was an important negotiator in the formation of coalition governments during the 1980s.
Claes was foreign minister of Belgium
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
-1800s:-1900s:-2000s:...
from 1992 until 1994, and secretary general of NATO from 1994 until 1995, when he resigned after the discovery of a bribe of over 50 million Belgian franc
Belgian franc
The franc was the currency of Belgium until 2002 when the euro was introduced into circulation. It was subdivided into centimes , 100 centiem or Centime .-History:...
s that was accepted during contract negotiations with Agusta helicopters
Agusta scandal
The Agusta scandal or the Case Agusta-Dassault was a Belgian corruption scandal. It resulted from the purchase of military helicopter of the Agusta A109 Agusta-type by the Belgian Army in 1988, where Agusta and Dassault bribed various office holders...
during the time he was minister of economic affairs. For that he was convicted in 1998, losing voting rights for five years.
External links
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