Frank Vanhecke
Encyclopedia
Frank Arthur Hyppolite Vanhecke (born 30 May 1959 in Brugge
) started his career in Belgian politics as a student by joining the Jong Studentenverbond and later the Nationalistische Studentenvereniging. He gave up his membership of the Volksunie in 1977 after it acceded to a much-debated package of federal reforms. Vanhecke subsequently joined the Vlaams Nationale Partij, the predecessor of the Vlaams Blok
.
Quickly climbing the party ranks, he became responsible for the party's press and media communication in 1986 and worked from 1989 as a personal assistant to Karel Dillen
in the European Parliament
, until he was elected to a Parliamentary seat himself in 1994. After a short term in the Belgian Senate
, Vanhecke returned to European politics after the elections
in 2004.
Vanhecke sits on its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
, and is a substitute for the Committee on Development
and a member of the
Delegation for relations with Switzerland
, Iceland
and Norway and to the European Economic Area
(EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee. His voting record in the European Parliament shows his clear pro-life stance.
When Karel Dillen
resigned from his post as chairman of the Vlaams Blok in 1996, Vanhecke was designated as his successor. He was elected in 2001.
In November 2004 the Vlaams Blok
was dissolved and a new political party was created under the name Vlaams Belang
. Vanhecke was appointed chairman of this new party.
See also: European Parliament election, 2004 (Belgium)
Brügge
Brügge is a municipality in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.Its small church and market square are noted for their beauty....
) started his career in Belgian politics as a student by joining the Jong Studentenverbond and later the Nationalistische Studentenvereniging. He gave up his membership of the Volksunie in 1977 after it acceded to a much-debated package of federal reforms. Vanhecke subsequently joined the Vlaams Nationale Partij, the predecessor of the Vlaams Blok
Vlaams Blok
The Vlaams Blok was a Belgian far-right and secessionist political party with an anti-immigration platform. Its ideologies embraced Flemish nationalism, calling for the independence of Flanders. From its creation in 1978, it was the most notable militant right wing of the Flemish movement. Vlaams...
.
Quickly climbing the party ranks, he became responsible for the party's press and media communication in 1986 and worked from 1989 as a personal assistant to Karel Dillen
Karel Dillen
Karel Cornelia Constentijn Dillen was a Flemish politician and a Flemish nationalist. In 1977 he established the Vlaams Nationale Partij , which became Vlaams Blok at the elections of 1978...
in 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...
, until he was elected to a Parliamentary seat himself in 1994. After a short term 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:...
, Vanhecke returned to European politics after the elections
European Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
in 2004.
Vanhecke sits on its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs is a standing committee of the European Parliament.-External links:*...
, and is a substitute for the Committee on Development
Committee on Development
The Committee on Development is a standing committee of the European Parliament responsible for promoting, implementing and monitoring the development and cooperation policy of the European Union, notably talks with developing countries; aid to developing countries; and promotion of democratic...
and a member of the
Delegation for relations with Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and Norway and to the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee. His voting record in the European Parliament shows his clear pro-life stance.
When Karel Dillen
Karel Dillen
Karel Cornelia Constentijn Dillen was a Flemish politician and a Flemish nationalist. In 1977 he established the Vlaams Nationale Partij , which became Vlaams Blok at the elections of 1978...
resigned from his post as chairman of the Vlaams Blok in 1996, Vanhecke was designated as his successor. He was elected in 2001.
In November 2004 the Vlaams Blok
Vlaams Blok
The Vlaams Blok was a Belgian far-right and secessionist political party with an anti-immigration platform. Its ideologies embraced Flemish nationalism, calling for the independence of Flanders. From its creation in 1978, it was the most notable militant right wing of the Flemish movement. Vlaams...
was dissolved and a new political party was created under the name Vlaams Belang
Vlaams Belang
Vlaams Belang is a Belgian far-right political party in the Flemish Region and Brussels that advocates the independence of Flanders and strict limits on immigration, whereby immigrants would be obliged to adopt Flemish culture and language...
. Vanhecke was appointed chairman of this new party.
Education
- 1981: DegreeAcademic degreeAn academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in literatureLiteratureLiterature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and philosophy - communication sciences
Career
- 1996-2008: General Chairman of the Vlaams Blok
- 1994-1996 and since 2000: Member of the Bruges City CouncilCity councilA city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
(group chairman) - 1994-2003 and since 2004: Member of the European ParliamentMember of the European ParliamentA Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
- 2003-2004: Group leaderLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
in the Senate - 1989-1994: Deputy Secretary-General, Technical Group of the European Right
See also: European Parliament election, 2004 (Belgium)
European Parliament election, 2004 (Belgium)
Elections to the European Parliament were held in Belgium on June 13, 2004. The elections produced little overall change in the distribution of seats in the European Parliament among Belgium's many political parties. The two socialist parties improved their vote, while the Green parties lost ground...