Gaston Geens

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Gaston Constant Stefaan Antoon Geens (born June 10, 1931 in Kersbeek-Miskom , Limburg Province , Belgium ; † June 5, 2002 in Herent-Winksele , Flemish Brabant , Belgium) was a Belgian politician . He was the first Prime Minister of Flanders.

biography

After attending school, he studied law and economics at the Catholic University of Leuven and completed these studies with a doctorate to Dr. iur. and a licentiate in economics . In 1954 he became a member of the youth association of Christians-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V). In 1961 he became first vice director and then director of the party-affiliated study service CEPESS and together with Frank Swaelen and Leo Tindemans formed the CD&V think tank at that time .

His real political career began in October 1970 with the election of a member of the municipal council of Winksele on the electoral list "Winksele Toekomst" (Winkseler future).

After he became a member of the board of directors of CD&V in 1972, he was first appointed to a government in April 1974 as Prime Minister Leo Tindemans as Secretary of State for Budget and Science . In 1976 he became budget minister.

After the merger of the boroughs Veltem-Beisem, Winksele Herent and to the municipality Herent on 1 January 1977, he was briefly a member of the municipal council of Herent.

As part of a government reshuffle, Tindemans appointed him finance minister in his cabinet in 1977 . He also held this office under his successors Paul Vanden Boeynants and Wilfried Martens until 1980. At that time, the future Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy was his advisor. At the same time he held the office of budget minister again for some time in 1980.

On December 22, 1981 he became Prime Minister of Flanders and held this office for more than ten years when he was replaced by Luc Van den Brande on February 21, 1992. During his tenure, he was also Minister for the Economy and Employment Opportunities between 1981 and 1988. He was then Flemish Minister for Finance and Budget from 1988 to 1992.

For his political merits he was awarded the honorary title of Minister of State (Minister van Staat) on July 17, 1998 .

On May 30, 2009, a monument to Gaston Geens was unveiled in Aarschot , with Herman Van Rompuy , then Prime Minister of Belgium, giving the ceremonial speech.

Web links

  • Gaston Geens in ars-moriendi.be
  • Gaston Geens' life data at: odis.be (Dutch)
  • Interview with Gaston Geens from 1987 about his book "Op eigen kracht" on: youtube (Dutch)
  • Article (with photo by Gaston Geens) about the monument in Aarschot at: hln.be

proof

  1. ↑ Data from Gaston Geens at: odis.be
personal data
SURNAME Geens, Gaston
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Geens, Gaston CSA
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Belgian politician
DATE OF BIRTH June 10, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH Kersbeek-Miskom , Flanders , Belgium
DATE OF DEATH June 5, 2002
Place of death Herent-Winksele , Flemish Brabant , Belgium