Paula D'Hondt

Paula R. D'Hondt - maiden name: Van Opdenbosch - (born August 27, 1926 in Kerksken , East Flanders , Belgium ) is a Belgian politician from the Christian Democratic Vlaams .

biography

After attending school, she worked from 1948 to 1974 as a social assistant for the National Society of Belgian Railways (NMBS / SNCB).

In 1974, the mother of five children began her political career when she was elected to the Senate , to which she was a member until 1981.

Subsequently, she was established in December 1981 by Prime Minister Wilfried Martens to the Secretary of State appointed for Post, Telegraph and Telephone (PTT), and held that post until May 1988.. During this time, Etienne Schouppe became her head of cabinet in 1986 , also an employee of the NMBS / SNCB. As part of a government reshuffle, she then took over the office of Minister for Public Works in the eighth Martens government .

After the dissolution of this ministry on January 16, 1989, she left the government and was instead Royal Commissioner for Immigration from 1989 to 1993. During this time she was also exposed to criticism from other politicians, such as Filip Dewinter , leader of the Vlaams Belang group in the Flemish Parliament . In 1991 he wrote a book entitled Weg met ons? - Answer aan Paula D'Hondt (Away with us?), In which he critically examined Paula d'Hondt's views on foreign policy.

For her political merits she was not only awarded the honorary title of Minister of State on May 26, 1992 , but also the Prix ​​de la Démocratie in 1993 .