Bert Anciaux
Encyclopedia
Bert Jozef Herman Vic Anciaux (born in Merksem
, 11 September 1959) is a Belgian
politician
, a founder and former member of Spirit
(later known as the Social Liberal Party, or SLP). Served as Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport in the Flemish Government
from 2004 until 2009, he was also Minister for relations with the Brussels-Capital Region and the Brussels Parliament
.
, a nationalist party, from 1979 until 1985. Bert first held office as a councilman in the City of Brussels
in 1987, and in 1991 became a member of the provincial council of Flemish Brabant
. He became chairman of the Volksunie in 1992, serving until 1998. From 1995 to 1999 he sat in the Belgian Senate
.
es provoked by the publication of official reports on the Affaire Dutroux, Anciaux founded the think-tank, later political group, iD21, which aimed to confront the corruption and incompetence which the Dutroux affair had brought to light. In the 1999 Belgian general election
, the combined Volksunie-iD21 list gained 8% of the vote, up from around 5% in 1995
. Anciaux was elected to the European Parliament
.
which became Spirit and New-Flemish Alliance
(NV-A) respectively. A number of iD21 members joined Agalev
, the Flemish green
party, rather than Spirit.
In 2002 Anciaux stepped down as Minister for Culture in the Flemish government. Following the 2003 Federal election, where Anciaux and Spirit ran in a cartel with Socialist Party Different (SP.a), he was appointed Federal transport minister. In July 2004, he resigned this post and returned to his present position as Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport in Flanders.
Merksem
Merksem is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It has almost 41,000 inhabitants.-History:The history of Merksem goes back to Gallo-Roman times. During that period the region was mentioned as Merk and Heim being part of the diocese Kamerijk...
, 11 September 1959) is a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, a founder and former member of Spirit
Spirit (Belgium)
' was a Belgian Flemish political party formed after dissolution of the moderate nationalist People's Union party. Prior to 19 April 2008 it was known as Spirit, and intermediately as Flemish Progressives...
(later known as the Social Liberal Party, or SLP). Served as Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport in the Flemish Government
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
from 2004 until 2009, he was also Minister for relations with the Brussels-Capital Region and the Brussels Parliament
Brussels Parliament
The Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region , is the governing body of the Brussels-Capital Region, one of the three regions of Belgium...
.
Volksunie (1987-1998)
Anciaux was born into a political family. His father Vic Anciaux was chairman of the Volksunie (VU)People's Union (Belgium)
People's Union was a Belgian political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists....
, a nationalist party, from 1979 until 1985. Bert first held office as a councilman in the City of Brussels
City of Brussels
The City of Brussels is the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region, and the official capital of Belgium by law....
in 1987, and in 1991 became a member of the provincial council of Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
. He became chairman of the Volksunie in 1992, serving until 1998. From 1995 to 1999 he sat in the Belgian Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
.
Volksunie-iD21 (1998-2001)
Following the 1998 White MarchWhite March
The White March was a demonstration in Brussels on October 20, 1996 after serial killer and criminal Marc Dutroux was arrested. The demonstrators wanted better protection for children and a better functioning justice system that could investigate the Dutroux affair independently.-Prior...
es provoked by the publication of official reports on the Affaire Dutroux, Anciaux founded the think-tank, later political group, iD21, which aimed to confront the corruption and incompetence which the Dutroux affair had brought to light. In the 1999 Belgian general election
Belgian general election, 1999
The June 13, 1999 Belgian general elections was a Belgian election for the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Belgian Senate. The federal general elections were held on the same day as the European elections and the regional elections. The Flemish Liberals and Democrats won the elections.The...
, the combined Volksunie-iD21 list gained 8% of the vote, up from around 5% in 1995
Belgian general election, 1995
The 21 May 1995 Belgian general elections was a Belgian election for the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and Belgian Senate. The Christian People's Party won the elections, and Jean-Luc Dehaene continued as Prime Minister.-Senate:...
. Anciaux was elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
Spirit / Flemish Progressives (2001-2009)
With the collapse of the Volksunie in 2001, split between left and right factions led by Anciaux and Geert BourgeoisGeert Bourgeois
Geert Albert Bourgeois is a Belgian lawyer and politician . He is since 2009 the current Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Local and Provincial Government, Civic Integration, Tourism and the Vlaamse Rand...
which became Spirit and New-Flemish Alliance
New-Flemish Alliance
' is a Flemish right-wing political party, founded in the autumn of 2001. It is a conservative and liberal movement that promotes civic nationalism...
(NV-A) respectively. A number of iD21 members joined Agalev
Green!
Groen! is a Belgian green political party. Green! is the smallest Flemish party with a representation in the federal, regional or European parliament.-Before 1979:...
, the Flemish green
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
party, rather than Spirit.
In 2002 Anciaux stepped down as Minister for Culture in the Flemish government. Following the 2003 Federal election, where Anciaux and Spirit ran in a cartel with Socialist Party Different (SP.a), he was appointed Federal transport minister. In July 2004, he resigned this post and returned to his present position as Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport in Flanders.
SP.A (2009 - present)
In 2008 he left his party and has expressed the desire to launch a new "Social Project". He then joined the Flemish socialist party SP.a.Controversies
- Burning a Belgian flag in 1976.
- Split-up of the VU (2001).
- Giving up many political mandates, by the way delivering parliamentary mandates for substitute party members.
- Erecting a cartel with the SP.a against the will of most of spirit's board members in 2002, who then left for Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Groen!.
- SP.a name change controversy (2008). When he joined the SP.a, he said in a radio interview that the name of the party changed, causing vehement protest from socialist politicians.
- He compared the Dendermonde nursery attackDendermonde nursery attackThe Dendermonde nursery attack was a stabbing attack on the Fabeltjesland daycare centre in the village of Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde in Dendermonde, Belgium, at 10:00 a.m. CET on 23 January 2009. Three people were stabbed to death, and twelve were mutilated in the attack...
to the Gaza conflictGaza conflictThe term Gaza conflict can refer to any of the following events:*Gaza–Israel conflict*Battle of Gaza...
.