Rik Daems

Hendrik Jules Joseph ( Rik ) Daems ( born August 18, 1959 in Aarschot ) is a Flemish politician, painter and wine merchants. He is currently a member of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies for the liberal Open VLD.

Life

Rik Daems is the son of Jos Daems, who sat for the Partij voor de Vrijheid Vooruitgang (PVV ) in the Senate and Secretary of State was. After graduating from college in 1977 with a focus on Latin and mathematics at the Royal Athenaeum Keerbergen he studied industrial engineering at the Solvay Business School in Brussels. Subsequently, he served two years, a military service from the Central American Institute of Public Administration in Costa Rica.

In 1980 he became managing director of wine merchant Daems & Sons. About his art business, Art & Consult International, he sold his abstract paintings in the style of Jackson Pollock.

Policy

From 1989 to 1994 Daems was his father's successor as mayor of the city of Aarschot.

In 1987 he was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies; In the same year he was appointed deputy chairman of the VLD.

Before the 1999 elections Daems moved to Heverlee. In the Chamber of Deputies he had distinguished himself as a stubborn budget expert. As Guy Verhofstadt after twelve years of opposition became prime minister, he asked Rik Daems to the Office of the Minister for the Budget. However Daems preferred the post of Minister of Telecommunications, state enterprises and investments. Followed in 2001, the responsibility for the middle class. During his tenure, the bankruptcy of the national airline Sabena fell; Daems was accused of not having done enough to prevent the collapse of the company.

Also in the sale of UMTS licenses for his leadership of public criticism has been exposed. While the licenses were rinsed everywhere in Europe a lot of money in the state coffers, the proceeds remained in Belgium to meet expectations.

After the 2003 election Daems lost his ministerial post. He was chairman of the VLD group in the Chamber of Deputies and member of the city council of lions.

Mid-October 2007, it was reported Daems was considering a party switch to Lijst Dedecker. By his own account he would decide about it " after a thorough examination and consultation ." After his party colleague Patricia Ceysens had become the successor of Fientje Moerman Flemish economy minister, his chances were dwindled to a minister in the federal government to be formed. The Open VLD rejected the transfer rumor back a day later.

Private life

His first wife learned Daems at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel know. His second wife, An Knapen, with whom he has a daughter, he left after twelve years of marriage.

On 10 January 2006 Daems left his position as Group Chairman VLD rest. Daems had initially announced in an exclusive interview with the magazine Dag Allemaal to seek divorce from his second wife. Later, the newspaper Le Soir revealed that he had begun a love affair with the PS deputies Sophie Pécriaux. Their daughter Sasha was born on 25 June 2006.

Later Daems gave this a complaint with the Belgian Press Council. However, this was found to be unfounded, as there is no evidence that Dag Allemaal Daems had pressured to get an interview about his private life.

References and Notes

  • Mayor ( Flemish Brabant )
  • Aarschot
  • Minister (Belgium )
  • Member of the Chamber of Deputies ( Belgium)
  • Born in 1959
  • Man
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