Jean Gol
Encyclopedia
Jean Gol was a Belgian
politician for the liberal
party Parti Réformateur Libéral (PRL) and a freemason. He was a minister, on several occasions, in the Belgian government, including service as Deputy Prime Minister.
After the Second World War, Gol grew up in Belgium and studied law. He obtained a doctorate in law
at the University of Liège
.
PLP, and some dissidents of the Rassemblement Wallon. During the governments Martens
V-VII, of 17 December 1981 up to 9 May 1988, he was: vice-premier, minister of justice and institutional reform. From 6 January 1985 up to 28 November 1985, Jean Gol replaced Willy De Clercq
on the department of foreign trade.
In June 1994, he was elected a member of the European Parliament
, and in addition was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 1995.
Socialist André Cools
; out of these efforts emerged what became known as the 'Colonster' group, which partly proved to be the catalyst for a strengthening of collective Francophone responses by way of counterweight to the increasing influence of Flemish
-based parties in Belgium.
In May 1992, he became president of the PRL, and in 1993 he was one of the architects of the PRL-FDF Federation, in collaboration with Antoinette Spaak
.
, which he had already worked on in 1976.
.
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 for the liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
party Parti Réformateur Libéral (PRL) and a freemason. He was a minister, on several occasions, in the Belgian government, including service as Deputy Prime Minister.
Early life
His Jewish parents were living in exile in England during the Second World War when he was born.After the Second World War, Gol grew up in Belgium and studied law. He obtained a doctorate in 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...
at the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
.
Political career
He started his political career within the ranks of the Rassemblement Wallon in 1971.Public offices
In 1974, he was Secrétariat d'État à l'Economie régionale wallonne in the government Tindemans II. In 1976, he was one of the co-founders of the Parti des Réformes et des Libertés de Wallonie (PRLW), a merger of the liberal WalloonWalloon Region
The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three federal Regions of Belgium, and its capital is Namur. It comprises, as defined by Article 5 of the Constitution of Belgium, the provinces of Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg and Namur...
PLP, and some dissidents of the Rassemblement Wallon. During the governments Martens
Wilfried Martens
Wilfried Martens is a Belgian politician. He was born in Sleidinge . Martens was the 44th Prime Minister of Belgium from 3 April 1979 to 6 April 1981 and 17 December 1981 to 7 March 1992....
V-VII, of 17 December 1981 up to 9 May 1988, he was: vice-premier, minister of justice and institutional reform. From 6 January 1985 up to 28 November 1985, Jean Gol replaced Willy De Clercq
Willy De Clercq
Willy Clarisse Elvire Hector, Viscount De Clercq was a Belgian liberal politician.De Clercq was born in Ghent...
on the department of foreign trade.
In June 1994, he was elected a member of 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...
, and in addition was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 1995.
Leadership within Francophone circles
Over a long period he was noted for his ability to empathize with local Walloon and Liégeois leaders from diverse political backgrounds, including with veteran WalloonWalloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
Socialist André Cools
André Cools
André H.P. Cools was a Belgian socialist politician who died by assassination.-Political career:Cools had a long and distinguished political career...
; out of these efforts emerged what became known as the 'Colonster' group, which partly proved to be the catalyst for a strengthening of collective Francophone responses by way of counterweight to the increasing influence of Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
-based parties in Belgium.
In May 1992, he became president of the PRL, and in 1993 he was one of the architects of the PRL-FDF Federation, in collaboration with Antoinette Spaak
Antoinette Spaak
Antoinette M. Spaak, born in Brussels on 27 June 1928, is a Belgian politician.Daughter of former Prime Minister of Belgium Paul-Henri Spaak, granddaughter of the first female member of the Belgian Senate Marie Janson, and great-niece of Prime Minister Paul-Émile Janson, Spaak was born into a...
.
Contribution to political theory
He re-defined the doctrine of social liberalismSocial liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
, which he had already worked on in 1976.
Death
He died of a sudden illness in 1995. He was succeeded as leader of the PRL by his longstanding party colleague Louis MichelLouis Michel
Louis H. O. Ch. Michel is a Belgian politician. He served in the government of Belgium as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2004 and was European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid from 2004 to 2009. Since 2009, he has been a Member of the European Parliament...
.