Gaston Geens
Gaston Constant Stefaan Geens Antoon ( born June 10, 1931 in Kersbeek - Miskom, Limburg Province, Belgium, † June 5, 2002 in Herent - Winksele, Flemish Brabant, Belgium) was a Belgian politician. He was the first Prime Minister of Flanders.
Biography
After schooling, he studied law and economics at the Catholic University of Louvain and graduated studies with a Doctorate in Law. and a licentiate in Economics. In 1954 he became a member of the youth organization of Christians - Democratisch en Vlaams (CD & V). In 1961 he was first deputy director and then director of the party-affiliated service CEPESS study, and together with Frank Swaelen and Leo Tindemans at this time the think tank of the CD & V.
His real political career began in October 1970 with the election of a member of the Municipal Council of Winksele on the electoral list " Winksele Toekomst " ( Winkseler future).
After board member of the CD & V in 1972 he was, he was appointed to a government in April 1974 Prime Minister Leo Tindemans Secretary of State for Budget and Sciences for the first time. In 1976, he was budget minister.
After the amalgamation of the municipalities Veltem - Beisem, Winksele and Herent Herent to the municipality on 1 January 1977, he was briefly a member of the Municipal Council of Herent.
As part of a Government reshuffle appointed him Tindemans 1977 finance ministers in his cabinet. This post he held under his successors Paul Vanden Boeynants and Wilfried Martens until 1980. At this time, the later Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy was his advisor. At the same time he had again held the office of budget minister for some time in 1980.
On 22 December 1981, he was then Prime Minister of Flanders and had to be replaced are Luc Van den Brande, on 21 February 1992, more than ten years held the post. During his tenure, he was 1981-1988 and Minister of Economy and job opportunities. After that, he was from 1988 to 1992 Flemish Minister for Finance and Budget.
For his political merits him the honorary title of Minister of State was awarded (Minister van State ) on 17 July 1998.
On 30 May 2009, a monument to Gaston Geens was unveiled in Aarschot, with Herman Van Rompuy, the former Prime Minister of Belgium, held the solemn speech.