Johan Maria Gerardus "Jo" Vandeurzen (Heusden

Heusden-Zolder

Heusden-Zolder is a municipality located in the Belgian province of province of Limburg near Hasselt. On 1 January 2006 Heusden-Zolder had a total population of 30,769...

, 2 June 1958) is a Belgian

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, member of Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V), a centrist 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...

 Christian Democratic party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

. He was the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Institutional Reforms in the Leterme I Government

Leterme I Government

The Leterme I Government was the federal government of Belgium from 20 March 2008 to 22 December 2008. It took office when the Flemish Christian democrat Yves Leterme was sworn in as Prime Minister...

 (the Belgian federal government

Belgian federal government

The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...

), which took office on 20 March 2008. On 19 December 2008 he resigned after a crisis.

After the 2009 Flemish regional election

Belgian regional elections, 2009

Regional elections were held in Belgium on 7 June 2009 to choose representatives in the regional councils of Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...

, CD&V was the largest party and he received 69,223 preference votes. When the 2009-2014 Peeters II Government

Flemish government

The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...

 took office, he became the Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and Family.

He is a Master of Laws

Master of Laws

The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...

 from the Catholic University of 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...

. He works at Geyskens-Vandeurzen in Beringen

Beringen

Beringen is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Beringen municipality includes the town of Beringen proper and the old communes of Beverlo, Koersel, and Paal.-Origins:...

.

Political career

• chairman of CVP
  Christian Democratic and Flemish
  The Christian Democratic and Flemish is a political party of Belgium, formerly called Christian People's Party...
  
  ’s division Genk
  Genk
  Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
  
   (1983 - 1989)
• member of the OCMW’ council in Genk
  Genk
  Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
  
   (1989 - 1998)
• chairman of the OCMW in Genk
  Genk
  Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
  
   (1989 – 1993)
• member of the national CVP’s bureau (1989 – 1992)
• Belgian representative (1993 - )
• member of the city council in Genk
  Genk
  Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
  
   (1995 - )
• leader of the CVP in the municipal council of Genk
  Genk
  Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
  
   (1995 – 1998)
• secretary-general of CD&V  (2001 - 2004)
• temporary chairman of CD&V (2004)
• chairman of CD&V (29 October 2004 - 21 December 2007)
• Belgian Minister
  Belgian federal government
  The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
  
   of Justice since 21 December 2007 - 22 December 2008)
• Flemish Minister
  Flemish government
  The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
  
  of Welfare, Public Health and Family (13 July 2009 - present)