G.M.M.L. (Guy) Verhofstadt - Main contents

Guy Verhofstadt (1953) is a member of the European Parliament since 2 July 2009 and chairman of the liberal group in the European Parliament. Verhofstadt was first vice-minister and minister of budget in Belgium before leading three cabinets from 1999 till 2008. His first two cabinets were composed of liberals, social democrats and greens, and no christian parties, a rarity in Belgian politics at the time.

Name and surname

G.M.M.L (Guy) Verhofstadt

Date and place of birth

11 April 1953, Dendermonde (Belgium)

Country

Belgium

National political group

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  PVV (Party for Freedom and progress) till 1992
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  Open VLD (Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats) from 1992

European political group

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  Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

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  Law, Ghent University

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  president PVV Youth, 1976 to 1982
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  member of the city council Ghent, from 1976 to 1985
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  member of the House of Representatives, from 1985
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  Budget Minister and Scientific Research, and Deputy Prime Minister, from 1985 to 1988
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  PVV chairman, from 1989 to 1992
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  senator, from 1995 to 1999
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  Open VLD chairman, from 1997 to 1999
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  Prime Minster of Belgium, from 1999 to 2008
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  Member of the city council Ghent, from 2007
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  Interim chairman Open VLD, 2009
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  MEP, from 2009