Henri Simonet
Encyclopedia
Henri François Simonet (10 May 1931 – 15 February 1996) was a Belgian
politician.
Born in Brussels
, Henri Simonet studied law and economics at the ULB and then went to Columbia University
as CRB Graduate Fellow. Simonet began his political life as a member of the Socialist Party
(PS). He served as mayor of Anderlecht
between 1966 and 1984, succeeding the long-serving Joseph Bracops. Like Bracops, Simonet dominated the local political scene to such an extent that the ambitious Philippe Moureaux
moved to neighbouring Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
to pursue a career there. In 1985 Simonet left the Socialists to join the Liberal Reformist Party
(PRL) where he espoused increasingly atlanticist
positions.
As mayor of Anderlecht, Simonet presided over considerable changes to what had been a largely industrial and working class community, attracting new development in the form of the Erasmus Hospital, a teaching hospital tied to the ULB on whose administrative council Simonet served.
Christian D'Hoogh succeeded Simonet as mayor of Anderlecht.
Simonet served as Vice-Chairman of the European Commission
from 1973 to 1977 and as Minister for Regional Economic Development in 1978 and 1979.
On the national plan, Simonet served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and before as Minister of Economics Affairs.
His son Jacques Simonet
,who made all his political career in the liberal Liberal Reformist Party
, has served as mayor of Anderlecht since 2000 until his death in 2007.
They are buried together in the cemetery of Anderlecht
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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.
Born in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Henri Simonet studied law and economics at the ULB and then went to Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
as CRB Graduate Fellow. Simonet began his political life as a member of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)
The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party...
(PS). He served as mayor of Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
between 1966 and 1984, succeeding the long-serving Joseph Bracops. Like Bracops, Simonet dominated the local political scene to such an extent that the ambitious Philippe Moureaux
Philippe Moureaux
Philippe Moureaux is a Belgian politician, senator, mayor of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, and professor of economic history at the Université Libre de Bruxelles....
moved to neighbouring Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek or Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.-Rural beginnings:...
to pursue a career there. In 1985 Simonet left the Socialists to join the Liberal Reformist Party
Liberal Reformist Party
The Parti Réformateur Libéral was a Belgian liberal party active in Wallonia and Brussels. It grew out of the unitiarian PVV-PLP and has since become part of the Mouvement Réformateur.-PVV-PLP:* Omer Vanaudenhove 1961 - 1968...
(PRL) where he espoused increasingly atlanticist
Atlanticism
Atlanticism is a philosophy of cooperation among Western European and North American nations regarding political, economic, and defense issues, with the purpose to maintain the security of the participating countries, and to protect the values that unite them: "democracy, individual liberty and...
positions.
As mayor of Anderlecht, Simonet presided over considerable changes to what had been a largely industrial and working class community, attracting new development in the form of the Erasmus Hospital, a teaching hospital tied to the ULB on whose administrative council Simonet served.
Christian D'Hoogh succeeded Simonet as mayor of Anderlecht.
Simonet served as Vice-Chairman of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
from 1973 to 1977 and as Minister for Regional Economic Development in 1978 and 1979.
On the national plan, Simonet served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and before as Minister of Economics Affairs.
His son Jacques Simonet
Jacques Simonet
Jacques Simonet was a Belgian politician and a former Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.He is the son of Henri Simonet, former Socialist Party minister and for many years mayor of Anderlecht. His mother Marie-Louise Angenet taught at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.He was born in...
,who made all his political career in the liberal Liberal Reformist Party
Liberal Reformist Party
The Parti Réformateur Libéral was a Belgian liberal party active in Wallonia and Brussels. It grew out of the unitiarian PVV-PLP and has since become part of the Mouvement Réformateur.-PVV-PLP:* Omer Vanaudenhove 1961 - 1968...
, has served as mayor of Anderlecht since 2000 until his death in 2007.
They are buried together in the cemetery of Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
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