Hugo Coveliers
Encyclopedia
Hugo F.V. Coveliers is a Belgian
politician
and lawyer
. He was a member of the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
between 1985 and 1995 and from 1993 to 2003. Since 2003 he has been a member of the Belgian Senate
. He was a parliamentary chairman for the VLD in both chambers, from 1999 to 2003.
Coveliers started his career with the People's Union
(Volksunie), a Flemish nationalist party, but changed to the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) in 1992 together with some other frustrated party members. Within the VLD, he was part of the conservative
wing, and he was open to the idea of working with the Vlaams Belang
(Flemish Interest) and its precursor Vlaams Blok
(Flemish Bloc).
In 2004 Coveliers was co-founder of the Antwerp section of the conservative-libertarian organization Nova Civitas
. He also in that time feuded openly with VLD party chairman Karel de Gucht
. This resulted in Coveliers being ejected from the party on February 8, 2005, and starting his own political party VLOTT
in the fall of 2005. This party is willing to work together with the Vlaams Belang
(VB) and formed a cartel with it for the Antwerp city elections in October 2006.
He also became the subject of the first known Googlebomb in Belgium.
After the dismissal of Jean-Marie Dedecker
from the VLD, Coveliers, Dedecker and Boudewijn Bouckaert
(and other Nova Civitas
members) started negotiations to form a new right-wing liberal party. Coveliers and members of VLOTT will stand on the VB list for the 2007 general election
however.
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...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He was a member of the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
The Belgian Chamber of Representatives is one of the two chambers in the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Senate...
between 1985 and 1995 and from 1993 to 2003. Since 2003 he has been a member of 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:...
. He was a parliamentary chairman for the VLD in both chambers, from 1999 to 2003.
Coveliers started his career with the People's Union
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....
(Volksunie), a Flemish nationalist party, but changed to the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) in 1992 together with some other frustrated party members. Within the VLD, he was part of the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
wing, and he was open to the idea of working with the 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...
(Flemish Interest) and its precursor 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...
(Flemish Bloc).
In 2004 Coveliers was co-founder of the Antwerp section of the conservative-libertarian organization Nova Civitas
Nova Civitas
Nova Civitas was a Flemish think tank based on the principles of classic liberalism in combination with Anglo-Saxon conservatism. Nova Civitas claimed at its founding to be completely independent, although it was recognized and supported by the Flemish Liberal Party...
. He also in that time feuded openly with VLD party chairman Karel de Gucht
Karel De Gucht
Karel Lodewijk Georgette Emmerence De Gucht is a Belgian politician who has been the European Commissioner for Trade since 2010...
. This resulted in Coveliers being ejected from the party on February 8, 2005, and starting his own political party VLOTT
VLOTT
VLOTT is a Belgian right-wing liberal or fortuynist political party. The acronym VLOTT stands for Flemish Liberal Independent Tolerant and Transparent . It was founded on November 23, 2005 by ex-Flemish Liberals and Democrats member Hugo Coveliers...
in the fall of 2005. This party is willing to work together with the 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...
(VB) and formed a cartel with it for the Antwerp city elections in October 2006.
He also became the subject of the first known Googlebomb in Belgium.
After the dismissal of Jean-Marie Dedecker
Jean-Marie Dedecker
Jean-Marie Louis Dedecker is a Belgian Flemish politician.In 1999 and 2003, Dedecker was directly elected to the Belgian Senate. In 2004 Dedecker ran for a seat in the Flemish Parliament, after taking his seat in the Flemish Parliament, Dedecker was elected by his colleagues as a community senator...
from the VLD, Coveliers, Dedecker and Boudewijn Bouckaert
Boudewijn Bouckaert
Boudewijn Bouckaert is a Belgian law professor, a member of the Flemish Movement, and a libertarian conservative thinker and politician. He chairs the academic board of the LIB-ERA! think tank and serves as Member of the Flemish Parliament for the liberal party List Dedecker...
(and other Nova Civitas
Nova Civitas
Nova Civitas was a Flemish think tank based on the principles of classic liberalism in combination with Anglo-Saxon conservatism. Nova Civitas claimed at its founding to be completely independent, although it was recognized and supported by the Flemish Liberal Party...
members) started negotiations to form a new right-wing liberal party. Coveliers and members of VLOTT will stand on the VB list for the 2007 general election
Belgian general election, 2007
The 2007 Belgian general election took place on Sunday 10 June 2007. Voters went to the polls in order to elect new members for the Chamber of Representatives and Senate.Eligible voters were Belgian citizens 18 years and older...
however.
Books by Coveliers
- Securitas Belgica – de rijkswacht is overbodig, Hadewijch, 1989.
- Twee jaar Bendecommissie, een schimmengevecht, on the Nijvel gangNijvel gangThe Nijvel gang or the Brabant killers is a group or groups thought to be responsible for the "Brabant massacres", a series of violent attacks that occurred mostly in the province of Brabant in Belgium...
investigation, Hadewijch, 1992.