Hugo Vandenberghe
Encyclopedia
Hugo Vandenberghe is a Belgian
politician and a professor at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
(Law Faculty).
From 1973 to 1977, Hugo Vandenberghe served as advisor in several cabinets of Minister Leo Tindemans. From 1984 to 1990, he was member of the European Committee on Human Rights in Strasbourg
. In 1991, he was co-opted Senator, and, in 1999, he was elected Senator.
Hugo Vandenberghe was the Fraction Leader of the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) from 1995 to 2003. Following the federal elections of 2003, he became Vice President of the Senate and President of the Senate’s Justice Committee. Although he sits on several Senate committees and has served as President of the Special Investigating Committee on Organized Crime
, Hugo Vandenberghe is regarded as a Law
and Justice
specialist within the CD&V. In particular, he is known for advocating amendments to existing legislation
and for proposing new legislation.
Although Hugo Vandenberghe has a conservative profile within the CD&V, he has been considered to be a negotiator. For instance, in the ethical debates on gay marriage and euthanasia
since the 1990s, he has striven for multilateral agreement, although not always successfully. Since 1999, when the Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP, renamed Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams in 2001) became an opposition party, Hugo Vandenberghe has been opposed to the new Belgian law on euthanasia of the Liberal-Socialist-Green coalition.
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 and a professor at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
(Law Faculty).
From 1973 to 1977, Hugo Vandenberghe served as advisor in several cabinets of Minister Leo Tindemans. From 1984 to 1990, he was member of the European Committee on Human Rights in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. In 1991, he was co-opted Senator, and, in 1999, he was elected Senator.
Hugo Vandenberghe was the Fraction Leader of the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) from 1995 to 2003. Following the federal elections of 2003, he became Vice President of the Senate and President of the Senate’s Justice Committee. Although he sits on several Senate committees and has served as President of the Special Investigating Committee on Organized Crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
, Hugo Vandenberghe is regarded as a Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
specialist within the CD&V. In particular, he is known for advocating amendments to existing legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
and for proposing new legislation.
Although Hugo Vandenberghe has a conservative profile within the CD&V, he has been considered to be a negotiator. For instance, in the ethical debates on gay marriage and euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
since the 1990s, he has striven for multilateral agreement, although not always successfully. Since 1999, when the Christelijke Volkspartij (CVP, renamed Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams in 2001) became an opposition party, Hugo Vandenberghe has been opposed to the new Belgian law on euthanasia of the Liberal-Socialist-Green coalition.