Guy Spitaels

Guy Spitaels (born with Ath the September 3rd 1931) is a Belgian Politician of French expression.

Doctor in Right of the catholic University of Leuwen (1955), Guy Spitaels follows then a license in Political sciences and social (UCL, 1957), before being graduate in High European Studies of the College of Bruges (1958). Researcher with ULB, at the Institute of sociology Solvay (1958-1964), with a mission of research to the Congo (1959-1960), he becomes research director of this same Institute (1964-1968) then directing of the Center of Social economy and Sociology (1968); university lecturer at the Institute of the Work of the ULB (1961-1964), professor (1966-1971), extraordinary professor (1975), it still teaches in other universities, of which the College of Bruges and the Faculty of Law of the University of Rheims.

Affiliated with PSB following the Great Strike against the single Law, Guy Spitaels affiliates at the same time with the Walloon Popular movement created by André Renard (1961). Principal private secretary in two governments (1972-1974), it appears among the speakers most noticed in the doctrinal congress of the PSB-BSP of November 1974. Worried by all that milked with the problems of the social security, employment and the public health, he becomes member of the National office of the PSB (1975) and the scientific committee of the Institut Emile Vandervelde. In 1976, its talk in front of the congress of the Walloon Socialists relates to the unfavourable evolution of demography and employment to Wallonia. Burgomaster of Ath and senator (1977), the new Minister for employment (1977) lance famous projects CST and arrives at an agreement on the reduction of work at 38h/semaine. He is Deputy Prime Minister when the law of constitutional revision is voted creating the Walloon region. In 1981, it leaves the government to govern the destinies of its party. Succeeding André Cools, he is confronted with the crisis posed by the reconversion of the Walloon iron and steel industry. Throughout the years '80 marked by a policy of opposition to the néo-liberal theses , Guy Spitaels gives to his party an indication of administrative socialism; it also introduces and defends the principle of a radical federalism. The proposal for a regionalization of the sectors defined as nationals (1981), the institutional reform of 1988-89, its designation with the head of the Executive of the Walloon region (1992) seem the stages of a political line traced for a long time.

It sat during the 47e legislature of the Room of the Representatives of Belgium.

Former president of the Socialist party (station which it succeeded André Cools and to which it was replaced by Philippe Busquin).

Former president of the Walloon regional executive, which it contributed to make call Walloon Gouvernement (just as it imposed name Walloon Parlement instead of " District council wallon" (on the council of the linguist Jean-Marie Klinkenberg). In January 1994, whereas he managed to obtain the recognition of the Hainaut like zone objective 1 by the European Community, he must be solved to resign because of his implication in the Affaire Agusta; June 20th, 1995, the first separately elected Walloon deputies choose it like chair new Walloon Parliament.

It was selected like one of the Hundred Walloons of the century, by the Institut Jules Destrée, in 1995.

Following the defeat of the socialist party to the federal elections of June 10th, 2007, Guy Spitaels leaves exceptionally his reserve to ask Elio Di Rupo to choose between the positions of president of the party and minister-president of the Walloon region. The evening even, Elio Di Rupo announces that it will give up the mandate of minister-president if the militants of the PS re-elect it in July chair party.

External bonds

Biography on the Web site of the institute Jules Destrée

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