Guy Verhofstadt Bio (Biography)
Real name:
Guy Verhofstadt
Date of birth:
April 11. 1953
Place of birth:
Dendermonde, Flanders, Belgium
Astrology Sign:
Aries
Tags:
Biography
Guy Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician, currently the Prime Minister of Belgium.
Guy Verhofstadt was born in Dendermonde, Belgium on April 11, 1953. While studying law in Ghent, he became the president of Flemish Liberal Student's Union. He also served as the secretary to Willy De Clercq, who was the president of the Flemish liberal party (PVV) at the time. In 1982 he became president of the PVV. Three years later in 1985, Guy Verhofstadt was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget under then-Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Later he was ousted from his government post and began working with the opposition party, quickly garnering a leading position within the group. In 1991, his party tried to form a government but failed to do so. At that time, Guy Verhofstadt changed the PVV into the Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD) party, which attracted politicians from other parties who also wanted change.
The VLD had high expectations but could not overcome the CVP, which was in power. With that failure, Guy Verhofstadt disappeared from the Belgian political arena. He returned to governmental service in 1997 when he was elected to his party's presidency, by then he had changed to a less-radical viewpoint. He was elected Prime Minister in 1999.
Because of the country's good economic position when elected, Guy Verhofstadt was able to lower taxes and social alimonies. However, their economic situations worsened and in 2001, the government created the Siver Fund, also known as the Ageing Fund, to ensure that retirement pays would be secure through 2030. Another change brought about by Guy Verhofstadt was a simpler way of obtaining Belgian citizenship. Rather than grant the right to vote to non-European Union residents, his government proposed and passed a more liberal procedure to become Belgian citizens. Along with France, Germany and Russia, Belgium opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Despite opposition, in 2005 he was able to secure social and employment reforms within the country.
In 2007, Guy Verhofstadt was sworn in as a municipal councilor in Ghent.
Guy Verhofstadt was born in Dendermonde, Belgium on April 11, 1953. While studying law in Ghent, he became the president of Flemish Liberal Student's Union. He also served as the secretary to Willy De Clercq, who was the president of the Flemish liberal party (PVV) at the time. In 1982 he became president of the PVV. Three years later in 1985, Guy Verhofstadt was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget under then-Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Later he was ousted from his government post and began working with the opposition party, quickly garnering a leading position within the group. In 1991, his party tried to form a government but failed to do so. At that time, Guy Verhofstadt changed the PVV into the Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD) party, which attracted politicians from other parties who also wanted change.
The VLD had high expectations but could not overcome the CVP, which was in power. With that failure, Guy Verhofstadt disappeared from the Belgian political arena. He returned to governmental service in 1997 when he was elected to his party's presidency, by then he had changed to a less-radical viewpoint. He was elected Prime Minister in 1999.
Because of the country's good economic position when elected, Guy Verhofstadt was able to lower taxes and social alimonies. However, their economic situations worsened and in 2001, the government created the Siver Fund, also known as the Ageing Fund, to ensure that retirement pays would be secure through 2030. Another change brought about by Guy Verhofstadt was a simpler way of obtaining Belgian citizenship. Rather than grant the right to vote to non-European Union residents, his government proposed and passed a more liberal procedure to become Belgian citizens. Along with France, Germany and Russia, Belgium opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Despite opposition, in 2005 he was able to secure social and employment reforms within the country.
In 2007, Guy Verhofstadt was sworn in as a municipal councilor in Ghent.