Hubert Pierlot

Hubert Marie Eugène Pierlot ( born December 23, 1883 in Cugnon / Province Luxembourg, † December 13, 1963 in Uccle ) was a Belgian Catholic politician and Prime Minister.

Pierlot graduated in law at the Catholic University of Leuven.

Life

Ascent to the Minister

His political career began in 1918 to 1920 as Head of Cabinet of then Prime Minister Léon Delacroix. From 1926 to 1946 he was a senator.

From 20 November 1934 to 25 March 1935, he was Minister of the Interior in the cabinet of Georges Theunis and later in 1935 and 1936 to 1938 Agriculture Minister in the Cabinets of Paul van Zeeland, Paul -Emile Janson and Paul -Henri Spaak. In 1937, he was also for some time Minister of Justice.

Prime Minister from 1939 to 1945

On February 22, 1939 Pierlot was even elected Prime Minister. As such, he initially formed a coalition with the Socialist Party, but refused to be deflationary program. For this reason, he formed after the parliamentary elections of April 1939 a coalition with the Liberal Party. However, after the outbreak of the Second World War, he called again prominent socialist politician like Spaak in his cabinet, who succeeded him on 3 September 1939 in the office of Foreign Minister.

After the invasion of the Wehrmacht in Belgium in May 1940 and the capitulation of Brussels on May 17, 1940, there came between Pierlot and King Leopold III. a serious conflict, because the monarch refused to follow the government into exile in London. Pierlot then refused any responsibility for the attitude of the king and informed shortly after the Parliament in Limoges to settle the government's plan to exile in London. After the members of the Chamber of Deputies had agreed to present the plans of a government in exile, Pierlot conducted between 25 May 1940 and 8 September 1944, the London government in exile. In this government, he was also from 1940 to 1944 and Minister of Defence from 1940 to 1942 and Minister of Public Instruction.

On September 8, 1944, the government returned to the liberation by the Allied Forces back to Belgium. Pierlot remained until his replacement by Achille Van Acker on February 12, 1945 Prime Minister.

Him the honorary title was then " Minister of State " award and he raised to the peerage of " Earl " by the regent, Prince Charles.

Pierlot retired after from active politics and was returned to the bar.

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