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Jean-Luc Dehaene, Premier of Belgium, Is Dead at 73 Jean-Luc Dehaene, Former Prime Minister of Belgium, Is Dead at 73
(35 minutes later)
Jean-Luc Dehaene, a former prime minister of Belgium whose deft political deal-making helped hold together his country’s historically divided factions and for a time made him a leading contender to become the European Union’s top official, died on Thursday in Brittany, France. He was 73.Jean-Luc Dehaene, a former prime minister of Belgium whose deft political deal-making helped hold together his country’s historically divided factions and for a time made him a leading contender to become the European Union’s top official, died on Thursday in Brittany, France. He was 73.
He died after a fall while on vacation, Belgian officials told news outlets.He died after a fall while on vacation, Belgian officials told news outlets.
Mr. Dehaene, a member of the Flemish Christian Democratic Party, became prime minister in March 1992 after leaders of the country’s major political factions spent 103 tense days trying to form a working government. Mr. Dehaene, who had been communications minister, formed a center-left coalition that preserved a measure of peace among Dutch speakers in the north and French speakers in the south.Mr. Dehaene, a member of the Flemish Christian Democratic Party, became prime minister in March 1992 after leaders of the country’s major political factions spent 103 tense days trying to form a working government. Mr. Dehaene, who had been communications minister, formed a center-left coalition that preserved a measure of peace among Dutch speakers in the north and French speakers in the south.
In 1993, he helped push through major revisions to the Belgian Constitution that further stabilized the government. By the next year he was being viewed as a likely successor to the president of the European Union’s executive commission, Jacques Delors, whose term was coming to an end. Mr. Delors, a French Socialist, had raised the profile of the position, helping to establish a regional market and a regional currency.In 1993, he helped push through major revisions to the Belgian Constitution that further stabilized the government. By the next year he was being viewed as a likely successor to the president of the European Union’s executive commission, Jacques Delors, whose term was coming to an end. Mr. Delors, a French Socialist, had raised the profile of the position, helping to establish a regional market and a regional currency.
Mr. Dehaene’s candidacy, supported by France and Germany, came undone because of opposition from just one of the 12 members of the union at the time. On June 25, 1994, Prime Minister John Major of Britain, concerned that skeptics in his Conservative Party at home viewed him as too supportive of European integration, cast the only no vote against Mr. Dehaene. Each member state had veto power.Mr. Dehaene’s candidacy, supported by France and Germany, came undone because of opposition from just one of the 12 members of the union at the time. On June 25, 1994, Prime Minister John Major of Britain, concerned that skeptics in his Conservative Party at home viewed him as too supportive of European integration, cast the only no vote against Mr. Dehaene. Each member state had veto power.
Mr. Major said Mr. Dehaene, known for building compromises but also for bypassing opponents who did not go along, “represents a vision of big government, of interventionism” contrary to “the way Europe is moving.”Mr. Major said Mr. Dehaene, known for building compromises but also for bypassing opponents who did not go along, “represents a vision of big government, of interventionism” contrary to “the way Europe is moving.”
The rejection only strengthened Mr. Dehaene at home, and in 1995 his party won control of the government for a new term. While his first term was marked by relative political peace and his rising international ambitions, his second became complicated by a series of domestic controversies.The rejection only strengthened Mr. Dehaene at home, and in 1995 his party won control of the government for a new term. While his first term was marked by relative political peace and his rising international ambitions, his second became complicated by a series of domestic controversies.
At the end of 1996, 300,000 people demonstrated in the streets of Brussels after learning that police incompetence and possibly corruption had allowed a pedophile and serial killer, Marc Dutroux, to escape arrest until after he had killed five young girls. Two years later, three former government ministers were convicted of taking bribes from an Italian helicopter company, Agusta, and the French aviation giant, Dassault, in Belgian military contracts.At the end of 1996, 300,000 people demonstrated in the streets of Brussels after learning that police incompetence and possibly corruption had allowed a pedophile and serial killer, Marc Dutroux, to escape arrest until after he had killed five young girls. Two years later, three former government ministers were convicted of taking bribes from an Italian helicopter company, Agusta, and the French aviation giant, Dassault, in Belgian military contracts.
In 1999, just before national elections, Belgian-produced meat and dairy products were found to have been contaminated by dioxin chemicals introduced to animal feed. Leaders of the European Union, which is based in Brussels, were angry that they were not informed of the problem sooner or given an explanation of how it happened. Belgian’s ministers of health and agriculture resigned in early June, and on the 14th of the month so did Mr. Dehaene, after his party lost in national elections.In 1999, just before national elections, Belgian-produced meat and dairy products were found to have been contaminated by dioxin chemicals introduced to animal feed. Leaders of the European Union, which is based in Brussels, were angry that they were not informed of the problem sooner or given an explanation of how it happened. Belgian’s ministers of health and agriculture resigned in early June, and on the 14th of the month so did Mr. Dehaene, after his party lost in national elections.
Mr. Dehaene was born on Aug. 7, 1940, in Montpellier, France. His family, from the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, had fled to escape the Nazi invasion. He studied law and economics before joining the government in a series of administrative roles beginning in the 1970s, rising along with his reputation for being detail-oriented and politically astute. In 1981 he became minister of communications under Prime Minister Wilfried Martens, who was outspoken in favor of European unification.Mr. Dehaene was born on Aug. 7, 1940, in Montpellier, France. His family, from the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, had fled to escape the Nazi invasion. He studied law and economics before joining the government in a series of administrative roles beginning in the 1970s, rising along with his reputation for being detail-oriented and politically astute. In 1981 he became minister of communications under Prime Minister Wilfried Martens, who was outspoken in favor of European unification.
Mr. Dehaene’s survivors include his wife, the former Celie Verbeke, whom he married in 1965; two daughters, Mieke and Hilde; and two sons, Tom and Koen.Mr. Dehaene’s survivors include his wife, the former Celie Verbeke, whom he married in 1965; two daughters, Mieke and Hilde; and two sons, Tom and Koen.
Mr. Dehaene stayed in politics after his resignation and continued to be involved in the European Union. In 2001 he was named a vice president of a convention to draft a constitution. Two years later, as the tendentious process continued, he emphasized that it was important not to dwell on specific terms that might alienate one member or another — like, for example, the word “federal.” The effort to create a constitution failed in 2005, but a treaty was adopted in 2007 that changed how the union operated.Mr. Dehaene stayed in politics after his resignation and continued to be involved in the European Union. In 2001 he was named a vice president of a convention to draft a constitution. Two years later, as the tendentious process continued, he emphasized that it was important not to dwell on specific terms that might alienate one member or another — like, for example, the word “federal.” The effort to create a constitution failed in 2005, but a treaty was adopted in 2007 that changed how the union operated.
“The reality is that you have different visions for Europe,” he said at the time. “So never fight for words. Just because someone doesn’t want to name the baby, you don’t throw out the baby.”“The reality is that you have different visions for Europe,” he said at the time. “So never fight for words. Just because someone doesn’t want to name the baby, you don’t throw out the baby.”