Edward Leemans

Edward "Ward" Leemans (born April 26, 1926 , † August 2, 1998 ) was a Belgian sociologist , university professor , politician of the Christelijke People's Party (CVP) and President of the Senate .

biography

Leemans studied sociology at the then bilingual Catholic University of Leuven. There he later accepted the position as professor of sociology.

At that time, the University of Leuven had become by far the largest university in Belgium, and the high enrollment figures caused a lack of space. On April 9, 1965, a few courses were outsourced to Woluwe-Saint-Lambert / Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe and Kortrijk . Due to the heated mood in Leuven, a commission began its work in December 1965, which dealt with the restructuring of the university, chaired by Professors Leemans and Xavier Aubert . After three months of work, it came to different results: while the French-speaking members opposed a move to Wallonia, this was supported by the Flemish members. In the autumn of 1968 it was finally decided to split into the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Université catholique de Louvain .

Leemans himself continued his teaching activities as a sociology professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and in 1974 was one of the co-founders of the Research Institute for Work and Coexistence ( Onderzoeksinstituut voor Arbeid en Samenleving ).

Leemans, a native Flemish who was socially committed and Christian-inspired, began his political career as a member of the Senate , in which he represented the interests of the Christian Democratic Vlaams (CVP). Between March 5, 1980 and November 8, 1987 he was finally President of the Senate ( Senaatvoorzitter ).

On December 2, 1983, he was awarded the honorary title of Minister of State ( Minister van Staat ) along with some other well-deserved politicians .

Web links

• Belgian Ministries (rulers.org)