Look for biographies of the leaders (in Spanish) at CIDOB website. See also the page on Belgian Governments since 1945 to know more about the ruling parties, as well as an external source listing the leaders of the regional parliaments and governments, as part of the site Rulers.
Current parties:
Flemish:
Open VLD: Flemish Liberals and Democrats-Citizens Party (PVV to 1992, VLD to 2007) - CD&V: Christian Democrats & Flemish (CVP to 2001) - Vlaams Belang (VB): Flemish Interest (Vlaams Blok to 2004) - N-VA: New Flemish Alliance (VU to 2001) - Groen: Green! (Agalev to 2003) - LA: Liberal Appeal - VLOTT: Flemish, Liberal, Independent, Tolerant, Transparent - Lijst Dedecker: Dedecker List - Vooruit: Forward (SP.A to 2021)
Francophone:
PS: Socialist Party - MR: Reformist Movement (PRL to 2002) - Ecolo: Confederated Ecologists for the Organization of the Original Struggles - MCC: Citizens' Movement for Change - PC: Communist Party - DéFI: Democratic, Federalist, Independent (FDF to 2015) - LE: The Committed Ones (Les Engagés, CDH to 2022)
Bilingual/unitarian:
Vivant: For Individual Liberty and Labour in a New Future - RWF: Rally Wallonia-France - PVDA/PTB: Workers' Party of Belgium
Late parties:
Flemish:
VU: Volksunie/People's Union-Flemish Free Democrats (1954-2001 > N-VA, Spirit) - CVP: Christian People's Party (1968-2001 = CD&V) - PVV: Party for Freedom and Progress (1972-1992 = VLD) - SP: Socialist Party (1978-2001 = SP.A) - SP.A: Socialist Party Different (2001-2021 = Vooruit) - Vlaams Blok (VB): Flemish Block (1979-2004 > Vlaams Belang) - Agalev: from "Living in a different way" (1986-2003 = Groen) - ID21: Integral Democracy for the 21e century (1998-2001 > Spirit) - Spirit: Social, Progressive, International, Regionalist, Integral-Democratic, Turned to the Future (2001-2008 = VP) -VP: Flemish Progressives (2008-2009 = SLP) - SLP: Social Liberal Party (2009 > Groen) - KP: Communist Party (1989-2009)
Francophone:
FDF: Francophone Democratic Federalists (1964-2015 = DéFI) - PW: Walloon Party (1965-1968 > RW) - PSC: Christian Social Party (1968-2002 = CDH) - RW: Walloon Rally (1968-1985/99 > RWF) - PLP: Party for Freedom and Progress (1972-1976 > PRLW) - PL: Liberal Party (1973-1979 > PRL) - PRLW: Party for Reforms and Freedom in Wallonia (1976-1979 > PRL) - PRL: Liberal Reformist Party (1979-2002 = MR) - RPW: Walloon Popular Rally (1981-1987 > PW, PS) - ADW: Walloon Democratic Alliance (1985-1999 > RWF) - RF: Walloon Movement for the Return to France (1989-1999 > RWF) - CDF: Francophone Christian Democrats (2002-2013) - CDH: Humanist Democratic Center (2002-2022 = LE)
Bilingual/unitarian:
LP/PL: Liberal Party (1846-1961 = PVV/PLP) - KPB/PCB: Communist Party of Belgium (1921-1982 > KP, PC) - BSP/PSB: Belgian Socialist Party (1944-1978 > PS, SP)
CVP/PSC: Christian People's/Social Christian Party (1945-1968 > CVP, PSC) - PVV/PLP: Party for Freedom and Progress (1961-1972 > PVV, PLP) - FN: National Front (1985-2012) - FNB: New Front of Belgium (1997-2008 > FN)
 Heads of State
|
King
Léopold III 23 Feb 1934 - 16 Jul 1951 (†1983)
Regents
Charles 20 Sep 1944 - 18 Jul 1950 (†1983)
Baudouin 11 Aug 1950 - 16 Jul 1951 (†1993)
Kings
Baudouin 17 Jul 1951 - 31 Jul 1993 (†1993)
Albert II 9 Aug 1993 - 21 Jul 2013
Philippe 21 Jul 2013 -
|
| Prime Ministers
|
Achille Van Acker 12 Feb 1945 - 13 Mar 1946 (†1975) BSP/PSB
Paul-Henri Spaak 13 Mar 1946 - 31 Mar 1946 (†1972) BSP/PSB
Achille Van Acker 31 Mar 1946 - 2 Aug 1946 (†1975) BSP/PSB
Camille Huysmans 2 Aug 1946 - 20 Mar 1947 (†1968) BSP/PSB
Paul-Henri Spaak 20 Mar 1947 - 11 Aug 1949 (†1972) BSP/PSB
Gaston Eyskens 11 Aug 1949 - 8 Jun 1950 (†1988) CVP/PSC
Jean Pierre Duvieusart 8 Jun 1950 - 15 Aug 1950 (†1977) CVP/PSC
Louis Marie Joseph Pholien 15 Aug 1950 - 15 Jan 1952 (†1968) CVP/PSC
Jean Marie Van Houtte 15 Jan 1952 - 23 Apr 1954 (†1991) CVP/PSC
Achille Van Acker 23 Apr 1954 - 26 Jun 1958 (†1975) BSP/PSB
Gaston Eyskens 26 Jun 1958 - 25 Apr 1961 (†1988) CVP/PSC
Théodore Lefèvre 25 Apr 1961 - 28 Jul 1965 (†1973) CVP/PSC
Pierre Charles Harmel 28 Jul 1965 - 19 Mar 1966 (†2009) CVP/PSC
Paul Vanden Boeynants 19 Mar 1966 - 17 Jun 1968 (†2001) CVP/PSC
Gaston Eyskens 17 Jun 1968 - 26 Jan 1973 (†1988) CVP
Edmond Jules Leburton 26 Jan 1973 - 25 Apr 1974 (†1997) BSP/PSB
Léo Tindemans 25 Apr 1974 - 20 Oct 1978 (†2014) CVP
Paul Vanden Boeynants 20 Oct 1978 - 3 Apr 1979 (†2001) CVP
Wilfried Martens 3 Apr 1979 - 6 Apr 1981 (†2013) CVP
Mark Eyskens 6 Apr 1981 - 17 Dec 1981 CVP
Wilfried Martens 17 Dec 1981 - 7 Mar 1992 (†2013) CVP
Jean-Luc Dehaene 7 Mar 1992 - 12 Jul 1999 (†2014) CVP
Guy Verhofstadt 12 Jul 1999 - 20 Mar 2008 VLD, Open VLD
Yves Leterme 20 Mar 2008 - 30 Dec 2008 CD&V
Herman Van Rompuy 30 Dec 2008 - 25 Nov 2009 CD&V
Yves Leterme 25 Nov 2009 - 6 Dec 2011 CD&V
Elio Di Rupo 6 Dec 2011 - 11 Oct 2014 PS
Charles Michel 11 Oct 2014 - 27 Oct 2019 MR
Sophie Wilmès 27 Oct 2019 - 1 Oct 2020 MR
Alexander De Croo 1 Oct 2020 - Open VLD
|
| Deputy Prime Ministers
|
Paul-Henri Spaak 1961-1965 (†1972) BSP/PSB
Antoon Spinoy 1961-1966 (†1967) BSP/PSB
Willy De Clercq 1966-1969 (†2011) PVV/PLP
Jean-Joseph Merlot 1969-1972 (†1969) BSP/PSB
André Cools 1969-1973 (†1991) BSP/PSB
Willy De Clercq 1973-1974 (†2011) PVV
Léo Tindemans 1973-1974 (†2014) CVP
Paul Vanden Boeynants 1977-1978 (†2001) PSC
Léon Hurez 1977-1979 (†2004) BSP/PSB
Renaat Van Elslande 1978-1979 (†2000) CVP
Guy Spitaels 1979-1981 (†2012) PS
Willy Claes 1979-1980 SP
Paul Vanden Boeynants 1979-1980 (†2001) PSC
José Desmarets 1980 (†2019) PSC
Herman Vanderpoorten 1980 (†1984) PVV
José Desmarets 1980-1981 (†2019) PSC
Willy Claes 1980-1981 SP
Guy Mathot 1981 (†2005) PS
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1981-1986 (†2023) PSC
Willy De Clercq 1981-1985 (†2011) PVV
Jean Gol 1981-1988 (†1995) PRL
Guy Verhofstadt 1985-1988 PVV
Philippe Maystadt 1986-1988 (†2017) PSC
Hugo Schiltz 1988-1991 (†2006) VU
Melchior Wathelet 1988-1995 PSC
Jean-Luc Dehaene 1988-1991 (†2014) CVP
Willy Claes 1988-1994 SP
Philippe Moureaux 1988-1992 (†2018) PS
Guy Coëme 1992-1994 PS
Frank Vandenbroucke 1994-1995 SP
Elio Di Rupo 1994-1999 PS
Erik Derycke 1995 SP
Herman Van Rompuy 1995-1999 CVP
Philippe Maystadt 1995-1998 (†2017) PSC
Johan Vande Lanotte 1995-1998 SP
Louis Tobback 1998 SP
Jean-Pol Poncelet 1998-1999 PSC
Luc Van den Bossche 1998-1999 SP
Magda Aelvoet 1999-2002 Agalev
Isabelle Durant 1999-2003 Ecolo
Johan Vande Lanotte 1999-2005 SP, SP.A
Louis Michel 1999-2004 PRL, MR
Laurette Onkelinx 1999-2007 PS
Jef Tavernier 2002-2003 Agalev
Patrick Dewael 2003-2007 VLD
Didier Reynders 2004-2019 MR
Freya Van den Bossche 2005-2007 SP.A
Yves Leterme 2007-2008 CD&V
Jo Vandeurzen 2008 CD&V
Patrick Dewael 2008 Open VLD
Karel De Gucht 2008-2009 Open VLD
Joëlle Milquet 2008-2014 CDH
Laurette Onkelinx 2008-2014 PS
Steven Vanackere 2008-2013 CD&V
Guy Vanhengel 2009-2011 Open VLD
Vincent Van Quickenborne 2011-2012 Open VLD
Johan Vande Lanotte 2011-2014 SP.A
Alexander De Croo 2012-2020 Open VLD
Pieter De Crem 2013-2014 CD&V
Melchior Wathelet 2014 CDH
Kris Peeters 2014-2019 CD&V
Jan Jambon 2014-2018 N-VA
Didier Reynders 2018-2019 MR
Koen Geens 2019-2020 CD&V
David Clarinval 2019-2020 MR
Vincent Van Peteghem 2020- CD&V
Pierre-Yves Dermagne 2020- PS
Sophie Wilmès 2020-2022 MR
Georges Gilkinet 2020- Ecolo
Vincent Van Quickenborne 2020- Open VLD
Frank Vandenbroucke 2020- SP.A, Vooruit
Petra De Sutter 2020- Groen
David Clarinval 2022- MR
|
| Ministers of Foreign Affairs
|
Paul-Henri Spaak 1939-1949 (†1972) BSP/PSB
Paul Van Zeeland 1949-1954 (†1973) CVP/PSC
Paul-Henri Spaak 1954-1957 (†1972) BSP/PSB
Victor Larock 1957-1958 (†1977) BSP/PSB
Pierre Wigny 1958-1961 (†1986) CVP/PSC
Paul-Henri Spaak 1961-1966 (†1972) BSP/PSB
Pierre Charles Harmel 1966-1973 (†2009) CVP/PSC
Renaat Van Elslande 1973-1977 (†2000) CVP
Henri François Simonet 1977-1980 (†1996) PS
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1980-1981 (†2023) PSC
Léo Tindemans 1981-1989 (†2014) CVP
Mark Eyskens 1989-1992 CVP
Willy Claes 1992-1994 SP
Frank Vandenbroucke 1994-1995 SP
Eric Derycke 1995-1999 SP
Louis Michel 1999-2004 PRL, MR
Karel De Gucht 2004-2009 VLD, Open VLD
Yves Leterme 2009 CD&V
Steven Vanackere 2009-2011 CD&V
Didier Reynders 2011-2019 MR
Philippe Goffin 2019-2020 MR
Sophie Wilmès 2020-2022 MR
Hadja Lahbib 2022- MR
|
| Ministers of Defence
|
Fernand Demets 1944-1945 (†1952) LP/PL
Léon Henri Mundeleer 1945-1946 (†1964) LP/PL
Raoul de Fraiteur 1946-1949 (†1984) n/p
Albert Devèze 1949-1950 (†1959) LP/PL
Henri Moreau de Melen 1950 (†1992) CVP/PSC
Etienne de Greef 1950-1954 (†1961) n/p
Antoine Spinoy 1954-1958 (†1967) BSP/PSB
Arthur Gilson 1958-1961 (†2004) CVP/PSC
Paul Willem Segers 1961 (†1983) CVP/PSC
Ludovic Moyersoen 1961-1966 (†1992) CVP/PSC
Charles Poswick 1966-1968 (†1994) PVV/PLP
Paul Willem Segers 1968-1972 (†1983) CVP/PSC
Paul Vanden Boeynants 1972-1979 (†2001) CVP
José Desmarets 1979-1980 (†2019) PSC
Charles Poswick 1980 (†1994) PRL
Frank Swaelen 1980-1981 (†2007) CVP
Alfred (Freddy) Vreven 1981-1985 (†2000) PVV
François-Xavier de Donnéa 1985-1988 PRL
Guy Coëme 1988-1992 PS
Léo Delcroix 1992-1994 CVP
Karel Pinxten 1994-1995 CVP
Jean-Pol Poncelet 1995-1999 PSC
André Flahaut 1999-2007 PS
Pieter De Crem 2007-2014 CD&V
Steven Vandeput 2014-2018 N-VA
Sander Loones 2018 N-VA
Didier Reynders 2018-2019 MR
Philippe Goffin 2019-2020 MR
Ludivine Dedonder 2020- PS
|
| Ministers of Finance
|
Camille Gutt 1940-1945 (†1971) n/p
Gaston Eyskens 1945 (†1988) CVP/PSC
Frans Joseph de Voghel 1945-1946 (†1995) n/p
Jean Vauthier 1946-1947 (†1980) n/p
Gaston Eyskens 1947-1949 (†1988) CVP/PSC
Henri Liebaert 1949-1950 (†1977) LP/PL
Jean Marie Van Houtte 1950-1952 (†1991) CVP/PSC
Albert Edouard Janssen 1952-1954 (†1966) CVP/PSC
Henri Liebaert 1954-1958 (†1977) LP/PL
Jean Marie Van Houtte 1958-1961 (†1991) CVP/PSC
André Dequae 1961-1965 (†2006) CVP/PSC
Gaston Eyskens 1965-1966 (†1988) CVP/PSC
Robert Henrion 1966-1968 (†1997) PVV/PLP
Jean Charles,
Baron Snoy et d'Oppuers 1968-1972 (†1991) PSC
Andries Vlerick 1972-1973 (†1990) CVP
Willy De Clercq 1973-1977 (†2011) PVV
Gaston Geens 1977-1980 (†2002) CVP
Robert Henrion 1980 (†1997) PRL
Paul Hatry 1980 (†2010) PRL
Mark Eyskens 1980-1981 CVP
Robert Vandeputte 1981 (†1997) CVP
Willy De Clercq 1981-1985 (†2011) PVV
Frans Grootjans 1985 (†1999) PVV
Mark Eyskens 1985-1988 CVP
Philippe Maystadt 1988-1998 (†2017) PSC
Jean Jacques Viseur 1998-1999 PSC
Didier Reynders 1999-2011 PRL, MR
Steven Vanackere 2011-2013 CD&V
Koen Geens 2013-2014 CD&V
Johan Van Overtveldt 2014-2018 N-VA
Alexander De Croo 2018-2020 Open VLD
Vincent Van Peteghem 2020- CD&V
|
| Chairmen of the Chamber of Representatives
|
Jan Frans Van Cauwelaert 1939-1954 (†1961) CVP/PSC
Camille Huysmans 1954-1958 (†1968) BSP/PSB
Paul Kronacker 1958-1961 (†1994) LP/PL
Achille Van Acker 1961-1974 (†1975) SP/PSB
André Dequae 1974-1977 (†2006) CVP/PSC
Edmond Jules Leburton 1977-1979 (†1997) BSP/PSB
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1979-1980 (†2023) PSC
Jean Defraigne 1980 (†2016) PRL
Joseph Michel 1980-1981 (†2016) PSC
Jean Defraigne 1981-1988 (†2016) PRL
Eric Vankeirsbilck 1988 CVP
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1988-1995 (†2023) PSC
Jozef (Jos) Dupré 1995 (†2021) CVP
Raymond Langendries 1995-1999 PSC
Herman De Croo 1999-2007 VLD
Herman Van Rompuy 2007-2008 CD&V
Patrick Dewael 2008-2010 Open VLD
André Flahaut 2010-2014 PS
Patrick Dewael 2014 Open VLD
Siegfried Bracke 2014-2019 N-VA
Patrick Dewael 2019-2020 Open VLD
Éliane Tillieux 2020- PS
|
| Chairmen of the Senate
|
Robert Gillon 1939-1947 (†1972) LP/PL
Henri Marthe Rolin 1947-1949 (†1973) BSP/PSB
Robert Gillon 1949-1950 (†1972) LP/PL
Paul Struye 1950-1954 (†1974) CVP/PSC
Robert Gillon 1954-1958 (†1972) LP/PL
Paul Struye 1958-1973 (†1974) CVP/PSC
Pierre Charles Harmel 1973-1977 (†2009) CVP
Robert Vandekerckhove 1977-1980 (†1980) CVP
Edward Leemans 1980-1987 (†1998) CVP
Roger Lallemand 1988 (†2016) PS
Lambert Kelchtermans 1988 (†2021) CVP
Frank Swaelen 1988-1999 (†2007) CVP
Armand De Decker 1999-2004 (†2019) PRL-FDF-MCC
Anne-Marie Lizin 2004-2007 (†2015) PS
Armand De Decker 2007-2010 (†2019) MR
Danny Pieters 2010-2011 N-VA
Sabine de Bethune 2011-2014 CD&V
Rik Daems 2014 VLD
Sabine de Bethune 2014 CD&V
Christine Defraigne 2014-2018 MR
Jacques Brotchi 2018-2019 MR
Jean-Paul Wahl 2019 MR
Sabine Laruelle 2019-2020 MR
Stephanie D'Hose 2020- Open VLD
|
|
Chairmen of BSP/PSB (divided 1978) |
Single chairmen
Max Buset 1944-1959 (†1959)
Léo Collard 1959-1971 (†1981)
Co-chairmen
Edmond Jules Leburton 1971-1973 (†1997) Walloon
Joris (Jos) Van Eynde 1971-1975 (†1992) Flemish
André Cools 1973-1978 (†1991) Walloon
Willy Claes 1975-1977 Flemish
Karel Van Miert 1977-1978 (†2009) Flemish
|
The BSP/PSB succeeded in 1944 the Belgian Workers' Party (POB), which was founded on 6 Apr 1885. The split between BSP and PSB was on 26 Nov 1978.
 Chairmen of PS
|
André Cools 1978-1981 (†1991)
Guy Spitaels 1981-1992 (†2012)
Philippe Busquin 1992-1999
Elio Di Rupo 1999-2011
Thierry Giet 2011-2013
Paul Magnette 2013-2014
Elio Di Rupo 2014-2019
Paul Magnette 2019-
|
The PS was founded on 26 Nov 1978 from the split of BSP/PSB.
   Chairmen of SP, SP.A, Vooruit
|
Karel Van Miert 1978-1988 (†2009)
Frank Vandenbroucke 1988-1994
Louis Tobback 1994-1998
Fred Erdman 1998-1999 (†2021)
Patrick Janssens 1999-2003
Steve Stevaert 2003-2005 (†2015)
Caroline Gennez 2005 (acting)
Johan Vande Lanotte 2005-2007
Caroline Gennez 2007-2011
Bruno Tobback 2011-2015
John Crombez 2015-2019
Conner Rousseau 2019-
|
The SP was founded on 26 Nov 1978 from the split of BSP/PSB. Renamed to Socialist Party.Different (SP.A) on 13 Oct 2001, just some days later it adopted the name of Social Progressive Alternative (SP.A). On 17 Jan 2009 the party changed its name to Socialist Party Different, preserving the acronym, and on 21 Mar 2021 the name Vooruit (Dutch for Forward) was adopted.
|
National/general chairmen of CVP/PSC (divided 1968)
|
August Edouard De Schryver 1945-1949 (†1991)
F. Van der Straten-Wallet 1949-1950 (†1998)
Théodore Lefèvre 1950-1961 (†1973)
Paul Vanden Boeynants 1961-1966 (†2001)
Robert Houben 1966-1972 (†1992)
|
The CVP/PSC, founded on 18 Aug 1945 as the successor of the Catholic Party (KP/CP), had a nominal chairmanship since 1968, when CVP and PSC regional branches split the single party off. From 1972 to 1976, a permanent coordination committee for both parties existed, chaired by Frank Swaelen (see CVP).
  Chairmen of CVP, CD&V
|
Gilbert Mullie 1945-1947 (†1962)
Paul Willem Segers 1947-1949 (†1983)
Jef De Schuyffeleer 1949-1959 (†1959)
Fred Bertrand 1959-1961
Jozef (Jos) De Saeger 1961-1963 (†2000)
Robert Vandekerckhove 1963-1972 (†1980)
Wilfried Martens 1972-1979 (†2013)
Léo Tindemans 1979-1982 (†2014)
Frank Swaelen 1982-1988 (†2007)
Herman Van Rompuy 1988-1993
Johan Van Hecke 1993-1996
Marc Van Peel 1996-1999
Stefaan De Clerck 1999-2003
Yves Leterme 2003-2004
Jo Vandeurzen 2004-2007
Étienne Schouppe 2007-2008 (acting)
Wouter Beke 2008 (acting)
Marianne Thyssen 2008-2010
Wouter Beke 2010-2019
Cindy Franssen +
Griet Smaers 2019 (acting)
Joachim Coens 2019-
|
Until 1968 the list refers to the chairmen of the Flemish branch of the united CVP/PSC. On 29 Sep 2001 the party changed its name to CD&V.
   Chairmen of PSC, CDH, LE
|
Augustin Roberti 1945-1950 (†1976)
Paul Herbiet 1950-1959 (†1993)
Léopold Derbaix 1959-1964 (†1968)
Pierre Charles Harmel 1964-1965 (†2009)
Albert Parisis 1965-1968 (†1992)
Victor Michel 1968 (†1982)
Léon Servais 1968-1972 (†1975)
Léon Remacle 1972 (†2002) (acting)
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1972-1976 (†2023)
Georges Gramme 1976-1977 (†1985) (acting)
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1977-1979 (†2023)
Charles Hanin 1979 (†2012) (acting)
Paul Vanden Boeynants 1979-1981 (†2001)
Gérard Deprez 1981-1996
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb 1996-1998 (†2023)
Philippe Maystadt 1998-1999 (†2017)
Joëlle Milquet 1999-2011
Benoît Lutgen 2011-2019
Maxime Prévot 2019-
|
Until 1968 the list refers to the chairmen of the Walloon section of the united CVP/PSC. On 18 May 2002 PSC party changed its name to CDH; some members opposed to this change left the party to form the CDF. On 17 Mar 2022 the CDH changed its named to LE.
|
Chairmen of LP/PL, PVV/PLP (divided 1972)
|
Roger Motz 1945-1953 (†1964)
Henri Liebaert 1953-1954 (†1964)
Maurice Destenay 1954-1958 (†1973)
Roger Motz 1958-1961 (†1964)
Omer Vanaudenhove 1961-1968 (†1994)
Willy De Clercq + (†2011) Flemish co-chair
Émile (Milou) Jeunehomme 1968-1969 (†2001) Walloon co-chair
Pierre Descamps 1969-1972 (†1992)
|
LP/PL, the first Belgian party, was founded on 14 Jun 1846. In 1961 it changed its name to PVV/PLP and in 1972 split off between PVV (Flanders) and PLP (Wallonia).
  Chairmen of PVV, VLD, Open VLD
|
Willy De Clercq 1972-1973 (†2011)
Frans Grootjans 1973-1977 (†1999)
Willy De Clercq 1977-1982 (†2011)
Guy Verhofstadt 1982-1985
Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck 1985-1989
Guy Verhofstadt 1989-1995
Herman De Croo 1995-1997
Guy Verhofstadt 1997-1999
Karel De Gucht 1999-2004
Dirk Sterckx 2004
Karel de Gucht 2004
Bart Somers 2004-2009
Guy Verhofstadt 2009 (acting)
Alexander De Croo 2009-2012
Guy Verhofstadt 2012 (acting)
Gwendolyn Rutten 2012-2020
Egbert Lachaert 2020-
|
The PVV was born in 1972 from the late PVV/PLP and changed its name to VLD in 1992. In Mar 2007 the party absorbed two minor parties, Liberal Appeal and Vivant, taking as new name Open VLD.
  Chairmen of Vlaams Blok, Vlaams Belang
|
Karel Dillen 1979-1996 (†2007)
Frank Vanhecke 1996-2008
Bruno Valkeniers 2008-2012
Gerolf Annemans 2012-2014
Tom Van Grieken 2014-
|
The Flemish People's Party (VVP, president Lode Claes) and the Flemish National Party (VNP, founded 1977, president Karel Dillen) were in origin splinters of Volksunie to contest the 1978 elections under the Vlaams Blok (VB) umbrella. On 29 May 1979 the VNP, after attracting most of VVP militants, changed its name to Vlaams Blok. On 14 Nov 2004 the VB was disbanded and inmediately replaced by a new party called Vlaams Belang.
  General Presidents of VU, N-VA
|
Walter Couvreur 1954-1955 (†1996)
Frans Van der Elst 1955-1975 (†1997)
Hugo Schiltz 1975-1979 (†2006)
Vic Anciaux 1979-1986
Jaak Gabriëls 1986-1992
Bert Anciaux 1992-1998
Patrik Vankrunkelsven 1998-2000
Geert Bourgeois 2000-2001
Fons Borginon 2001 (acting)
Geert Bourgeois 2001-2004
Frieda Brepoels +
Bart De Wever 2004 (acting)
Bart De Wever 2004-
|
Volksunie (VU, founded on 14 Dec 1954, formed an alliance in 1998 with the new and small party ID21 named VU-ID21. Its spokesman was Vincent Van Quickenborne and its president Bert Anciaux. The alliance split off on 14 May 2001. On 13 Oct 2001 the VU ceased to exist actually as it split up in three factions. Through an internal election, the faction led by Geert Bourgeois was given the right to be considered the legal heir of VU, but it had to choose a new name, N-VA, for the party. Some members of the second faction, "Not Divide", joined the N-VA. On 10 Nov 2001 the third faction led by Bert Anciaux, "Future", became an independent party, Spirit.
  Leaders of Agalev, Groen
|
Agalev secretaries (for internal organization)
Jos Geysels 1986-1987
Luc Lamote 1988-1989
Bert Deruyck 1990-1992
Paul Janssens 1993-1994
Luc Lemiengre 1995-2003 (†2004)
Johan Haemels 2003
Agalev political secretaries (for political issues and spokesmen)
Léo Cox 1986-1989
Johan Malcorps 1989-1995
Wilfried Bervoets 1995-1998 (†1998)
Jos Geysels 1998-2003
Dirk Holemans 2003
Groen chairmen
Vera Dua 2003-2009
Wouter Van Besien 2009-2014
Meyrem Almaci 2014-2022
Nadia Naji +
Jeremy Vaneeckhout 2022-
|
Agalev changed its name to Groen on 15 Nov 2003.
 Leaders of Ecolo
|
Federal Secretaries
Jean-Marie Verhertbruggen + Jean-M. Humblet 198.-198.
Jacky Morael + Marcel Cheron + Pierre Jonckheer + B. Thiéry + Georges Trussart 198.-1990
Jacky Morael + Marcel Cheron + Claude Adriaen + Didier Paternotte + Salvatore Miraglia 1990-1992
Daniel Burnotte + Gérard Lambert + Vincent Decroly + Anne-Marie Lateur + Roland Libois 1992-1994
Isabelle Durant + Dany Josse + Jacky Morael + Jean Luc Roland 1994-1999
Philippe Defeyt + Jacques Bauduin + Brigitte Ernst 1999-2002
Philippe Defeyt + Marc Hordies + Evelyne Huytebroeck 2002-2003
Jean-Michel Javaux + Evelyne Huytebroeck + Claude Brouir 2003-2007
Co-Presidents
Jean-Michel Javaux + Isabelle Durant 2007-2009
Jean-Michel Javaux + Sarah Turine 2009-2012
Olivier Deleuze + Emily Hoyos 2012-2015
Patrick Dupriez + Zakia Khattabi 2015-2018
Jean-Marc Nollet + Zakia Khattabi 2018-2019
Jean-Marc Nollet + Rajae Maouane 2019-
|
  Chairmen of FDF, DéFI
|
Paul Brien 1964-1967 (†1975)
Albert Peeters 1967-1972 (†1978)
André Lagasse 1972-1975 (†2010)
Léon Defosset 1975-1977 (†1991)
Antoinette Spaak 1977-1983 (†2020)
Lucien Outers 1983-1984 (†1993)
Georges Clerfayt 1984-1995
Olivier Maingain 1995-2019
François De Smet 2019-
|
From 1968 to 1974 and again from 1979 to 1983, the Democratic Front of the Francophones (FDF, founded on 11 May 1964) and the Walloon Rally (RW) formed a two-party federation. The federal chairmen were Jean Pierre Duvieusart (RW) in 1968-1972, Léon Defosset (FDF) in 1972-1974 and Pierre Bertrand (RW) in 1979-1983. The FDF federated with the PRL in 1994 and with the MCC in 1998. The axis PRL-FDF-MCC was renamed Reformist Movement (MR) on 24 Mar 2002. The Democratic Front of the Francophones changed its name to Francophone Democratic Federalists (FDF) in 2010 and to Democratic, Federalist, Independent (DéFI) on 13 Nov 2015.
  Chairmen of PLP, PRLW, PRL, MR
|
Milou Jeunehomme 1972-1973 (†2001)
André Damseaux 1973-1979 (†2007)
Jean Gol 1979-1982 (†1995)
Louis Michel 1982-1990
Antoine Duquesne + (†2010)
Daniel Ducarme 1990-1992 (†2010)
Jean Gol 1992-1995 (†1995)
Louis Michel 1995-1999
Daniel Ducarme 1999-2003 (†2010)
Antoine Duquesne 2003-2004 (†2010)
Didier Reynders 2004-2011
Charles Michel 2011-2014
Olivier Chastel 2014-2019
Charles Michel 2019
Georges-Louis Bouchez 2019-
|
The PLP was born in 1972 from the late PVV/PLP and joined with part of the RW to form the PRLW in 1976. the PRLW was headed by a directory chaired by Jean Max Georges Rey (†1983), although André Damseaux, the former PLP leader, continued to manage the daily affairs. In 1979 the PRLW and the PL merged to form a single party, the PRL. The PRL went into alliance with the FDF in 1994 and with the MCC in 1998. The axis PRL-FDF-MCC was renamed Reformist Movement (MR) on 24 Mar 2002; the PRL itself was renamed to MR on that date. The chairmen of these party federations were Jean Gol (†1995) in 1994-1995, Louis Michel in 1995-2002 and Daniel Ducarme (†2010) since 2002.
|
Chairmen of PL (1973-1979)
|
Roland Gillet 1973-1974
Basile Risopoulos 1974-1978 (†1997)
Georges Mundeleer 1978-1979 (†2001)
Pierre Van Halteren 1979 (†2009)
|
In 1972 the Brussels section of the PVV/PLP split away: the Flemish members joined the PVV and the Francophones were divided between the official PLP and several minor groups. In 1973 some of these groups united to form the new Liberal Democratic and Pluralist Party (PLDP, based in Brussels). In 1974 the Francophone Brussels section of the PLP joined the PLDP, which was then renamed to PL. In 1979 the PL joined the PRLW to form the PRL.
|
Chairmen of PW, RW (1965-1999)
|
Maurice Bologne + (†1984)
Fernand Massart + (†1997)
François Perin 1965-1968 (†2013)
François Perin 1968-1974 (†2013)
Robert Moreau 1974 (†2006) (acting)
Paul-Henry Gendebien 1974-1979
Henri Mordant 1979-1983 (†1998)
Fernand Massart 1983-1986 (†1997)
André Libert 1986-1999
|
The PW was founded in 1965 by the merger of three small Walloon parties: the Walloon Democratic Front (FDW), the Walloon Workers' Party (PWT) and the Walloon Front for Unity and Freedom (FW). On 20 Feb 1968 the PW merged with different personalities to form the Walloon Rally (RW). In 1976 splinters of the RW joined the PLP to form the PRLW. In 1981/85 the RW split into different factions. One of these splinter groups kept the name RW and in 1999 merged with the ADW and the RF to form the RWF.
|
Chairmen of RPW (1981-1987)
|
Yves de Wasseige 1981-1984 (†2021)
Jean-Emile Humblet + (†2014)
Jean-Claude Piccin +
Jean Leloup +
Patrick Olczyk 1984-1985
Jean Mottard 1985-1987 (†2006)
|
The RPW appeared in 1981 as an splinter group from RW and run in alliance with the PS. In 1985 a major splinter group of the RPW formed the Walloon Party (PW) through the merger with other maverick groups. The minority kept the name RPW and the alliance with PS, until its merger into the PS in 1987.
|
Chairman of ADW (1985-1999)
|
Paul-Henry Gendebien 1985-1999
|
The ADW was one of the spinter groups out of the RW and run federated with the PSC until 1995. In 1999 it merged with the RW and the RF to form the RWF.
|
Chairman of RF (1986-1999)
|
Maurice Lebeau 1989-1999
|
The RF, founded in 1986, merged with the ADW and the RW in 1999 to form the RWF.
 Chairmen of MCC
|
Gérard Deprez 1998-2020
Marie-Christine Marghem 2020-
|
The MCC belongs to the MR federation.
 Spokesmen of ID21 (1998-2001)
|
Vincent Van Quickenborne 1998-1999
Pieter Vandekerckhove 1999
Flor Van Noppen 1999-2000
Peter Van Hoof 2000-2001 (acting)
Sven Gatz 2001
|
The ID21 ceased to exist in 2001 as it merged with the just founded Spirit .
 Chairmen of FN (1985-2012)
|
Daniel Féret 1985-2007
Michel Delacroix 2007-2008
Daniel Huygens 2008-2011 (†2014)
Charles Pire 2011-2012 (†2012)
|
The FN ceased to exist in Feb 2012.
 Chairmen of FNB (1997-2008)
|
Marguerite Bastien 1997-2001
François-Xavier Robert 2001-2008
|
The FNB was born in 1997 as a breakaway faction of FN. In Jan 2008 it rejoined FN.
 Chairmen of PVDA/PTB
|
Ludo Martens 1968-2008 (†2011)
Peter Mertens 2008-2021
Raoul Hedebouw 2022-
|
The PVDA/PTB was founded in 1968 as the All Power to the Workers (AMADA/TPO), renamed to PVDA/PTB in 1979.
 Chairman of RWF
|
Paul-Henry Gendebien 1999-
|
The RWF was founded in 1999 by the merger of the RW, the ADW and the RF .
  Leaders of KPB/PCB, KP, PC
|
Chairmen of KPB/PCB
Julien Lahaut 1945-1950 (†1950) (honorary)
Ernest Burnelle 1954-1968 (†1968)
Marc Drumaux 1968-1972 (†1973)
Louis Van Geyt 1972-1989 (†2016)
General/National Secretaries of KPB/PCB
Edgard Lalmand 1943-1954 (†1964)
Ernest Burnelle 1954-1961 (†1968)
Chairmen of KP
Jef Turf 1982-1987
Ludo Loose 1987-199.
Jos Wolles 199.-199.
Jos De Geyter 199.-
Jaak Perquy -2009
Chairmen of PC
Claude Renard 1982-1990
Pierre Beauvois 1990-
Arne Baillière -
|
The KPB/PCB was founded in 1921 as a split of the Belgian Workers' Party (BWP/POB). In 1966 it became a united party with two wings, Flemish and Francophone; in 1982 two autonomous sections were inaugurated and in 1988 a third one was added for bilingual Brussels. In 1989 the Belgian communists were reorganized as a federation (Union of Communists of Belgium, UKB/UCB) of two independent parties, the KP and the PC (the Brussels division became part of PCB). The UKB/UCB was dissolved in 1995 and both parties continued existing separated. The KP disappeared as a party in 2009.
 Leaders of Spirit, VP, SLP (2001-2009)
|
Chairperson
Annemie Van de Casteele 2001-2002
Co-leaders
Geert Lambert +
Els Van Weert 2002 (acting)
Chairpersons
Els Van Weert 2002-2004
Geert Lambert 2004-2007
Bettina Geysen 2007-2008
Nelly Maes 2008 (acting)
Geert Lambert 2008-2009
|
Spirit was registered as a party on 10 Nov 2001 by one of the wings, the so-called "Future" and led by Bert Anciaux, in which the VU was divided. When Spirit was founded, the ID21 merged to it. On 19 Apr 2008 Spirit changed its name to VP. On 1 Jan 2009 VP changed its name to SLP. In Dec 2009 the SLP merged with Groen, ceasing to exist.
 Chairmen of CDF (2002-2013)
|
Benoît Veldekens 2002-2006 (†2014)
P.-A. de M. d'Aertrycke 2006-2013
|
CDF was formed on 20 Nov 2002 by members of PSC opposed to the change of the party's name to CDH. The party was disbanded in 2013
|
Leaders of LA
|
Ward Beysen 2003-2005 (†2005)
Jacques Kerremans 2005-2009
Guy Huybrechts 2009-
|
LA was formed on 19 Jan 2003 by splinters of VLD.
[To the list of countries] [To the ZPC Homepage]
 | © Copyright ZPC, Roberto Ortiz de Zárate, 1996-2024
URL of this page: http://zarate.eu/belgium.htm | E-mail: zpc@zarate.eu |
