Herman Van Rompuy: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:40, 19 November 2009
Herman Van Rompuy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| Assumed office 30 December 2008 | |
| Monarch | Albert II |
| Deputy | Didier Reynders (Finance) Guy Vanhengel (Budget) Laurette Onkelinx (Social Affairs) Joëlle Milquet (Employment) Steven Vanackere (Civil Service and Public Enterprise) |
| Preceded by | Yves Leterme |
| Succeeded by | [ |
| President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives | |
| In office 12 July 2007 – 30 December 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Herman De Croo |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Dewael |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 31, 1947 Etterbeek, Belgium |
| Political party | CD&V |
| Spouse | Geertrui Windels |
| Residence(s) | Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium |
Herman Van Rompuy (, born October 31, 1947 in Etterbeek) is a Belgian Flemish politician and member of the CD&V (formerly called CVP) and the current Prime Minister of Belgium, succeeding Yves Leterme.
Van Rompuy was the Vice President of the CVP Youth from 1973 to 1975, from 1978 onward, he was a member of the National Bureau of the CVP, from 1975 to 1980 he worked in the ministerial cabinets of Leo Tindemans and Gaston Geens and from 1988 to 1993 he was the President of the CVP. He also was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget from September 1993 to July 1999. After his party's defeat in the 1999 Belgian general election, he became a member of the Chamber of Representatives. In 2004, he was designated Minister of State.
On July 12, 2007, Van Rompuy was elected as the President of the Chamber of Representatives.
His younger brother, Eric Van Rompuy, is also a politician for the CD&V and was a minister in the Flemish Government from 1995 to 1999 and his sister, Christine Van Rompuy, is member of the Workers Party of Belgium. He is a long time supporter of football club RSC Anderlecht.
Prime Minister
On December 28, 2008, Van Rompuy was asked by King Albert II to form a new government[2] after he was reluctant to take up the role of Prime Minister[3]. He was sworn in as Belgian Prime Minister on December 30, 2008.
Political career
- Chairman of national CVP's youth council (1973 - 1977)
- Member of national CVP's bureau (1978 - )
- Member of the Belgian Senate (1988-1995)
- Secretary of State for Finance and for Small and Medium Enterprises (1988)
- Chairman of CVP (1988 - 1993)
- Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Budget (1993 - 1999)
- Member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives (1995 - )
- Minister of State (since 2004)
- President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives (2007 - 2008)
- Prime Minister of Belgium (2008 - 2009)
- First President of the European Union (2009 - )
Accomplishments in politics
Belgian debt reduction
As reported by Bloomberg: "A trained economist, Van Rompuy worked at the Belgian central bank from 1972 to 1975 before going into politics, where he had stints in government in the 1980s and 1990s. As budget minister, he helped drive down Belgium’s debt from a peak of 135 percent of gross domestic product in 1993. It fell to below 100 percent of GDP in 2003." [4]
Stabilization of Belgian politics
As reported by Bloomberg: "Van Rompuy brought political stability to Belgium after taking over in December 2008, ending a year when the country went through three prime ministers and speculation was rife that it might split apart." [5]
Proposals, initiatives and quotes as PM
Taxes
On October 13th 2009 Bloomberg reported that the government of Herman Van Rompuy would seek to "Tax Banks, Nuclear Power to Tame Deficit". [6] The article included the following information, "Belgium will introduce levies on banks, life insurers and nuclear-power producers next year as Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy seeks to start taming a swelling debt burden without hampering the economic recovery. The government will seek 670 million euros ($991 million) from banks and life insurers in 2011 to protect their depositors and policy holders from default, Finance Minister Didier Reynders said. Power producers GDF Suez SA and SPE NV will have to pay as much as 245 million euros annually for keeping the country’s three oldest atomic reactors in operation for an additional 10 years, according to Energy Minister Paul Magnette. Van Rompuy’s government is seeking additional revenue from energy producers and financial companies, some of which received government aid last year, to fund a stimulus package of value- added-tax discounts on construction works and eating out, pinning its hopes on consumers to lead the recovery. The Belgian government projects the economy will expand 0.4 percent next year and 1.9 percent in 2011.
Quote on financial recovery
“We are in the early stages of a recovery and at this time it is important not to weaken burgeoning confidence and to lay the foundations of a sustainable recovery,” Van Rompuy said in a speech to Parliament today in Brussels. “Most important is to keep the direction. That will also provide stability and support.” As reported by Bloomberg on October 13th 2009.
Policy on government debt
On October 13th Bloomberg reported the following about Van Rompuy's Government Debt Policy: "Belgium will trim its budget deficit to 5.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2011 from almost 5.7 percent both this year and next, according to a slide presentation handed out by State Secretary for the Budget Melchior Wathelet. Van Rompuy told Parliament earlier today that the deficit would widen to 5.4 percent of GDP this year. Belgium’s deficit will be little changed next year as the shortfall at the level of regional governments and municipalities will widen to 1.5 percent of GDP from 0.7 percent, offsetting efforts by the federal government to trim its deficit. Government debt will start exceeding one year’s worth of national output as of 2010, according to European Commission forecasts. Belgium had trimmed debt to as little as 84 percent of GDP in 2007, before bailouts of Fortis, Dexia SA, KBC Group NV and mutual insurer Ethias Group increased the nation’s borrowing costs and inflated the debt ratio to 89.6 percent at the end of last year."
Negotiations and dispute with GDF Suez
On October 22nd 2009 Reuters reported that the Rompuy Government had signed a commitment with GDF Suez for nuclear power fees to Belgium. The outstanding dispute with GDF concerns the €250 million fee that Belgium is attempting to charge GDF for 2009 as part of its "Renewable Energy Fund" as stated in the article: "Belgium has also charged nuclear producers a total of 250 million euros for 2008 and the same for 2009, as well as 250 million euros this year payable to a renewable energy fund. These fees remain in dispute. The producers are challenging the 2008 payment in Belgium's constitutional court. A spokesman for Van Rompuy said the government would pass a law to enforce the 500 million euro charge for this year, adding that this could also be contested by GDF Suez."[7]
European Union president
Candidacy
According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, on 19 November 2009, Van Rompuy has been elected as the first President of the European Union.[8] However, this has not been officially confirmed.
Position on Turkey joining the European Union
Van Rompuy is a strong opponent of Turkey joining the European Union. In 2004, he stated "Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be part of Europe. An expansion of the EU to include Turkey cannot be considered as just another expansion as in the past". He continued "The universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are fundamental values of Christianity, will lose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey."[9]
References
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSLI45257420091119
- ^ Belgian king asks Van Rompuy to form government Reuters
- ^ FACTBOX - Key facts about new Belgian prime minister Reuters
- ^ Bloomberg record on debt reduction of the Belgium's debt in the 90's and early 00's. Bloomberg
- ^ Quote on Van Rompuy's role in the Stabilization of Belgian Politics Bloomberg
- ^ Bloomberg Aricle on Van Rompuy's positions as PM Bloomberg
- ^ Reuters Article on GDF Suez Signs Belgium Nuclear Commitment Reuters
- ^ Herman Van Rompuy chosen as EU president(Urgent)
- ^ "EU president: Herman Van Rompuy opposes Turkey joining". Daily Telegraph. November 19, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
Bibliography
- De kentering der tijden, Lannoo, 1979
- Hopen na 1984, Davidsfonds, 1984
- Het christendom. Een moderne gedachte, Davidsfonds, 1990
- Vernieuwing in hoofd en hart. Een tegendraadse visie, Davidsfonds, 1998
- De binnenkant op een kier. Avonden zonder politiek, Lannoo, 2000
- Dagboek van een vijftiger, Davidsfonds, 2004
- Op zoek naar wijsheid, Davidsfonds, 2007
External links
- Official site - (Only available in Dutch)
- De Standaard: An unlikely finale to an already brilliant political career
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