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Jean-Luc Dehaene

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Jean-Luc Dehaene
Dehaene in 2009
Prime Minister of Belgium
In office
7 March 1992 – 12 July 1999
MonarchsBaudouin
Albert II
Preceded byWilfried Martens
Succeeded byGuy Verhofstadt
Personal details
Born
Jean Luc Joseph Marie Dehaene

(1940-08-07)7 August 1940
Montpellier,France
Died15 May 2014(2014-05-15)(aged 73)
Quimper,France
Political partyChristian Democratic and Flemish(CD&V)
SpouseCelie Verbeke
Children4
Signature

Jean Luc Joseph Marie"Jean-Luc"Dehaene(Dutch:[ʒɑ̃ːˈlykdəˈɦaːnə]ⓘ;7 August 1940 – 15 May 2014) was a Belgian politician who served as theprime minister of Belgiumfrom 1992 until 1999. During his political career, he was nicknamed "The Plumber",[1][2]as well as "The Minesweeper",[3]for his ability to negotiate political deadlocks.

A member of theChristen-Democratisch en Vlaams(CD&V) party and its antecedents,[3]Dehaene gained his first ministerial appointment in 1981. Dehaene's first government (1992–1995) included both Christian and Social Democrats and presided over the creation of a new constitution, effectively transforming Belgium into afederalstate. His second government (1995–1999) coincided with a number of crises in Belgium including theDutroux scandal.TheDioxin Affair,occurring shortly before the 1999 election, led to a swing against the major parties and Dehaene's government fell.

Following his final term as prime minister he was active in both Belgian and European politics. He was also onUEFA's financial fair play regulatory bodyand managedDexia Bankduring thefinancial crisis.He was the last prime minister ofKing Baudouin'sreign.

Early life and political career[edit]

Dehaene was born on 7 August 1940 inMontpellier,France, when his parents were fleeing the advance of the German armyinto BelgiumandFrance.[3]During his studies at theUniversité de Namurand theKatholieke Universiteit Leuven,he was a member of theOlivaint Conference of Belgium.[4]He got into politics through theAlgemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond[nl](General Christian Workers' Union; ACW), a trade union which was closely linked to theChristelijke Volkspartij(Christian People's Party; CVP).[2]

Dehaene's long-time wife Celie Verbeke is a native ofIllinoisin theUnited Statesbut both her paternal and maternal grandparents wereBelgian immigrants.Since she was raised by her parents inDutchand speaks without a foreign accent, the Belgian public remained unaware of her American background for a long time.

Dehaene was a keen football fan, and viewed it as an important part of Belgian national identity.[3]He was a supporter ofClub Brugge K.V.[2]In 1981, he became Minister of Social Affairs and Institutional Reform, until 1988, when he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Institutional Reform.[5]

Prime Minister of Belgium[edit]

Dehaene I (1992–95)[edit]

Make-up of the Dehaene I government by party

In 1992, after bothGuy VerhofstadtandMelchior Wathelethad failed, Dehaene managed to form a governing coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. This became one of Belgium's most important governments, because it successfully transformed Belgium into afederalstate in 1993.[6][7]In March 1993, Dehaene offered the King the resignation of his government, because of diverging views on how to handle the public finances. However, within a week the differences were put aside.

After the death ofKing Baudouinon 31 July 1993, Dehaene's government exercised the royal function until Prince Albert was sworn in asKing Albert IInine days later.[6]

In 1994, Dehaene ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Belgian troops fromRwandafollowing the massacre of a number of Belgian peacekeepers, thus lifting the last barrier to thegenocide of Tutsis.[8]During questions from the Belgian parliamentary commission into this decision he repeatedly acknowledged no regrets about the decision. He was the leading candidate to replace Jacques Delors as President of the European Commission, but British Prime MinisterJohn Majorvetoed the appointment.[3]The Luxembourg Prime MinisterJacques Santerwas appointed as a compromise candidate instead.

Dehaene II (1995–99)[edit]

Jean-Luc Dehaene giving a speech in 2005

Dehaene's second government was also composed of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. Despite the fact that the government was marked by a number of political crises and scandals, most notably theDutroux affair,it managed to serve the entire legislature.[2]During this period, for his work toward a unified Europe, Dehaene received theVision for Europe Awardin 1996.[9]Dehaene led Belgium into theEuro,[10]and in preparation for joining theEurozone,the Dehaene government was forced to make some sharp and unpopular economic reforms.[11]Some weeks before the1999 electionsthedioxin affairerupted, and both governing parties lost much of their support. He was replaced by anew government,led by Flemish liberal Guy Verhofstadt.[6]

After 1999[edit]

Later political career[edit]

Between 2000 and 2007, he sat asBurgemeester(mayor) ofVilvoorde.[11]At the request of his party, the CD&V, he was once again put up as a candidate during the 2003 elections, but this was clearly not with the intention of becoming prime minister as he was placed as the last person on the party list (Lijstduwer). In June 2004 and again in June 2009, Jean-Luc Dehaene was elected to the European Parliament for the CD&V within the center-rightEuropean People's Party(EPP) group.[11]In 2003, he was awarded theVlerick Award.[12]

Between 2006 and 2007, Dehaene served as member of theAmato Group,a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting theTreaty establishing a Constitution for Europeinto what became known as theTreaty of Lisbonfollowing its rejection byFrenchandDutchvoters. After theBelgian elections of 2007,Dehaene was appointed as mediator in the process to form a new government.[3][13]He was also called in to assist in the negotiations around theBrussels-Halle-Vilvoordepartition.[2]

UEFA Financial Fair Play[edit]

Jean-Luc Dehaene (left) withWilfried Martens(center) at aEuropean People's Party(EPP) meeting, 2005

Dehaene also served as the chief enforcer of the football association,UEFA's,Financial Fair Play(FFP).[14]In 2011, he was involved in an investigation ofManchester City F.C.over sponsorship irregularities.[14]

Dexia[edit]

Dehaene, who had previously been director ofInBev,[11]became chairman ofDexia Bank,a Belgian-French bank, in October 2008.[3]With the bank in difficulty owing to the financial crisis, he was asked to lead the company through the difficult period which he described as "mission impossible".[2]Owing to his extensive political background, it was thought that he could cope with the negative public perception Dexia had acquired through the financial crisis. His political connections helped Dexia'sbad bankto secure funding guarantees of up to €90 billion, provided primarily by the Belgian government. In 2012, Dexia Belgium becameBelfius.

Death[edit]

On 15 May 2014, Dehaene died after a fall while holidaying in Quimper in France.[15]He had been diagnosed withpancreatic cancerearlier the same year and was not seeking reelection as an MEP in the 2014 elections for health reasons.[11]He was 73 years old.

In the aftermath of his death, he received tributes from the incumbent Belgian Prime MinisterElio Di Rupowho described him as an "exceptional statesman".[16]Tributes were also made by Guy Verhofstadt, President of the European ParliamentMartin Schulzand President of the European CommissionJosé Manuel Barroso.[11]

His bodylay in statein Vilvoorde's town hall and the retiredKing Albert IIand the Flemish Minister-PresidentKris Peetersboth visited Vilvoorde to pay their respects.[17]

Honours[edit]

Publications[edit]

  • Sleutels voor morgen,Esopus, Hasselt, 1995, 111 p.ISBN978-90-802524-1-7
  • Sporen naar 2000,Icarus, Antwerp, 1999, 173 p.ISBN978-90-02-20925-3
  • Er is nog leven na de 16,Van Halewyck, Leuven, 2002, 208 p.ISBN978-90-5617-411-8
  • De Europese Uitdaging: van uitbreiding tot integratie,Van Halewyck, Leuven, 2004, 237 p.ISBN978-90-5617-564-1

References[edit]

  1. ^"Obituary: Jean-Luc Dehaene".The Guardian.16 May 2014.Retrieved15 May2014.
  2. ^abcdefN.C. (15 May 2014)."Jean-Luc Dehaene est décédé".Le Soir.Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2014.Retrieved15 May2014.
  3. ^abcdefgNeuger, James G. (15 May 2014)."Jean-Luc Dehaene, Who Led Belgium into Euro Region, Dies at 73".Bloomburg.Retrieved15 May2014.
  4. ^Jean-Luc Dehaene obituary: Politician who fought hard to keep Belgium together and went on to lead Uefa’s Financial Fair Play initiative,[1],The Independent.Retrieved 27 May 2014
  5. ^ab"Jean Luc Dehaene - CVP".Official profiles.Senate.be.Retrieved15 May2014.
  6. ^abc"Belgium profile".BBC News.29 February 2012.Retrieved16 May2014.
  7. ^Belga (16 May 2014)."Bplus:" Dehaene was architect van het federale België "".De Morgen.Retrieved16 May2014.
  8. ^"Belgian guilt examined at Rwanda genocide trial".One India.Reuters. 25 May 2007.Retrieved16 May2014.
  9. ^"Angela Merkel to receive Edmond Israel Foundation's Vision for Europe Award".Clearstream.6 November 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2014.Retrieved16 May2014.
  10. ^Belga (15 May 2014)."Groot staatsman die België in de Eurozone leidde".De Morgen.Retrieved16 May2014.
  11. ^abcdefKroet, Cynthia (15 May 2014)."Jean-Luc Dehaene, giant of Belgian politics, dies".European Voice.Retrieved16 May2014.
  12. ^"Jean-Luc Dehaene krijgt Vlerick Award".De Tijd.26 April 2003.Retrieved16 May2014.
  13. ^"The Belgian plumber is back".5 July 2007.Retrieved5 July2007.
  14. ^ab"Uefa boss to scrutinise Manchester City's Etihad deal".BBC News.16 August 2011.Retrieved16 August2011.
  15. ^Verschueren, Rogier (15 May 2014)."Jean-Luc Dehaene overleden".De Standaard.Retrieved15 May2014.
  16. ^Associated Press (15 May 2014)."Former Belgian Premier Jean-Luc Dehaene is dead at 73; helped set up EU constitution".Fox News.Retrieved16 May2014.
  17. ^Belga (22 May 2014)."Le Roi Albert et la Reine Paola rendent hommage à Jean-Luc Dehaene".La Libre Belgique.Retrieved22 May2014.
  18. ^"Dehaene".Archived fromthe originalon 22 August 2019.Retrieved19 October2016.
  19. ^"Resolución N° 251/997".impo.com.uy.Retrieved27 November2020.

External links[edit]

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Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Belgium
1992–1999 		Succeeded by
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