Bart Somers

Bartholomew "Bart " Jozef Lodewijk Rosalia Somers ( born May 12, 1964 in Mechelen, Belgium) is a Belgian politician.

Biography

After visiting the Sint- Romboutscollege in his hometown of Mechelen the son of MPs and Senators studied the Volksunie Joos Somers law at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

His own political career began also a member of the Volksunie and then the Vlaamse en Democraten Liberals (VLD ) initially in local politics in 1994 with the election of a member of the Municipal Council of Mechelen, which he is to this day.

He was a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives ( De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers ), to which he belonged for a term up to 2003 1999. Since 2001 he has been Mayor ( Burgemeester ) of Mechelen.

On 11 June 2003 he was appointed as successor to Renaat Landuyt Prime Minister of Flanders. This office he held until his replacement by Yves Leterme on 20 July 2004.

Subsequently, he was a member until 2007 the Flemish Parliament ( Vlaams Parlement ). He was also in 2004 as a successor of Karel De Gucht, who was appointed Secretary of State, Chairman of the VLD. During his tenure there came in January 2007 for expulsion from the party of Jean -Marie Dedecker.

In the election of 10 June 2007, he was representing the Open Flemish Liberals en Democraten (Open VLD) in the constituency of Antwerp as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the 52nd legislative period lasting until 2011 selected. In addition, he is there also leader of the Open VLD.

2009 followed him first ad interim Guy Verhofstadt as chairman of the Open VLD, which was then replaced on 12 December 2009 by Alexander De Croo.