Miet Smet
Encyclopedia
Miet Smet is a Belgian politician for the Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V).
Miet Smet was the founder (1973) and first president (until 1982) of the Christian People's Party political women's organisation, Vrouw en Maatschappij (Woman and Society).
She was elected to the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
in 1978. In 1985 she became State Secretary of Environmental Affairs, and negotiated an Equal Opportunities portfolio. While Smet's competencies cover all aspects of social emancipation, she focused on violence against women, women's economic position and their participation in decision-making. When Miet Smet became Minister of Labour and Employment in 1991, she kept the Equal Opportunities portfolio.
When she was offered first place in the CD&V list for the European elections in 1999 instead of Wilfried Martens
, Martens, at the instigation of then-wife Ilse Schouteden, refused to run at all.
Miet Smet was a Member of the European Parliament
from 1999 to 2004.
She became a Minister of State in 2002, and has been a member of the Flemish Parliament
since 2004, and a Belgian senator since 2007.
On 27 September 2008, she married fellow CD&V politician and former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens
.
Ms. Smet currently serves as president of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA
). She was elected in 2009 and took over from former president Dr. Jan Nico Scholten
.
Miet Smet was the founder (1973) and first president (until 1982) of the Christian People's Party political women's organisation, Vrouw en Maatschappij (Woman and Society).
She was elected to 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...
in 1978. In 1985 she became State Secretary of Environmental Affairs, and negotiated an Equal Opportunities portfolio. While Smet's competencies cover all aspects of social emancipation, she focused on violence against women, women's economic position and their participation in decision-making. When Miet Smet became Minister of Labour and Employment in 1991, she kept the Equal Opportunities portfolio.
When she was offered first place in the CD&V list for the European elections in 1999 instead of Wilfried 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....
, Martens, at the instigation of then-wife Ilse Schouteden, refused to run at all.
Miet Smet was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
from 1999 to 2004.
She became a Minister of State in 2002, and has been a member of the Flemish Parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
since 2004, and a Belgian senator since 2007.
On 27 September 2008, she married fellow CD&V politician and former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried 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....
.
Ms. Smet currently serves as president of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA
AWEPA
The Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa is an international non-governmental organisation founded by European Parliamentarians to reduce poverty and to protect human rights by supporting the well functioning of parliaments in Africa and by keeping Africa on the political agenda in...
). She was elected in 2009 and took over from former president Dr. Jan Nico Scholten
Jan Nico Scholten
Jan Nico Scholten is a former Dutch politician.Scholten studied law and political science at VU University Amsterdam. After being mayor of the municipalities Andel, Giessen and Rijswijk for nine years and Chairman of a District Council for ten years, he joined the Dutch Parliament from 1970-1986 ...
.