Alexander De Croo
Alexander De Croo | |
---|---|
Prime Minister of Belgium | |
Assumed office 1 October 2020 | |
Monarch | Philippe |
Deputy | |
Preceded by | Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats |
In office 12 December 2009 – 22 October 2012 | |
Deputy | Vincent Van Quickenborne Patricia Ceysens |
Preceded by | Guy Verhofstadt (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Guy Verhofstadt (Acting) |
Minister of Development Cooperation | |
In office 11 October 2014 – 1 October 2020 | |
Prime Minister | Charles Michel Sophie Wilmès |
Preceded by | Jean-Pascal Labille [fr] |
Personal details | |
Born | Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats | 3 November 1975
Spouse | Annik Penders |
Children | 2 |
Education | Vrije Universiteit Brussel (MSc) Northwestern University (MBA) |
Website | www |
Alexander De Croo (born 3 November 1975) is a Belgian politician and businessman who has served as the
De Croo was born in
During his tenure as deputy prime minister he served as the Minister of Pensions from 2012 to 2014, as Minister of Development Cooperation from 2014 to 2020, and as Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2020. On 1 October 2020, over a year after the 2019 federal elections, the De Croo Government was formed to replace Wilmès' minority government, with De Croo as prime minister.
Early life and career
Alexander De Croo was born on 3 November 1975 in Vilvoorde in Flemish Brabant, Belgium,[1] and was one of two children of the politician and Minister of State Herman De Croo and his wife Françoise Desguin.[2] In 1993, he attended the
Early political career
In 2009, De Croo participated for the first time in politics, standing in the 2009 European elections. He received more than 47,000 votes.[4] On 26 October, De Croo became a candidate for the presidency of his political party, Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD), to succeed the transitional party president, Guy Verhofstadt. He chose Vincent Van Quickenborne and Patricia Ceysens as his running mates to compete against Marino Keulen and Gwendolyn Rutten. On 12 December, he was elected president in the second round with 11,676 votes; Marino Keulen received 9,614 votes.[5] His election was considered remarkable as he had almost no previous experience as a politician.[6][7]
Political crisis
Five months after being elected party leader, De Croo threatened to withdraw the Open VLD from the governing coalition if there was no solution to the constitutional dispute in the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde voting issue. After Open VLD's deadline passed the party left the government and then Prime Minister Yves Leterme announced the government's resignation. This was accepted by King Albert II on 26 April 2010.[8] During the elections for the Senate in 2010, De Croo obtained more than 301,000 votes, the third most in the Dutch-speaking constituency[4] and served as a senator until 22 October 2012.[9]
Career in government
Part of the Di Rupo government
De Croo succeeded Van Quickenborne in the Di Rupo Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Pensions on 22 October 2012[10] after Van Quickenborne resigned to become mayor of Kortrijk.[11] In December Gwendolyn Rutten was elected as the new chairwoman of Open VLD.[12]
Part of the Michel I and II governments
After the 2014 Belgian federal election and its Federal Government formation, it was decided that he would remain Deputy Prime Minister in the newly formed Michel I Government. De Croo also became Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal Services[13][14] while Daniel Bacquelaine took over from him as Minister of Pensions.[14] This government took office on 11 October 2014.[15]
During De Croo's time in office, Belgium became the first country to suspend
After a disagreement within the government over the UN
In December 2018, De Croo took the stage during the Global Citizen Festival Mandela 100 concert in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was the final event of the international campaign #SheIsEqual for women's rights which attracted €780 million in commitments.[21]
Part of the Wilmès I and II governments
Under the caretaker administration of Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès, he oversaw a financial stimulus package to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and a deal to save Brussels Airlines in 2020.[22] He was elected joint deputy chairman of Open VLD, together with Egbert Lachaert.[23]
Prime Minister
On 23 September 2020, Alexander De Croo and
The formation of the Belgian government (Vivaldi) took a considerable amount of time. The book De doodgravers van België by Wouter Verschelden states that the main reason for the prolonged negotiations was a scandal about communication between De Croo and an Italian pornographic film actress.[26][27] In August 2021, Corriere della Sera quoted statements by the implicated actress, claiming that De Croo had messaged her seeking a meeting and that they had not met, but had continued to exchange messages.[28]
De Croo's government has a higher proportion of women ministers than any previous Belgian government: half of the ministers are women.[29]
In June 2021, he visited the site of the Antwerp building collapse with King Philippe of Belgium and spoke with emergency workers.[30]
In February 2022, the government adopted a law to make the labour market more flexible: employees will have the possibility, provided that their company agrees, of switching to a four-day week. In return, their working days will be extended to 9.5 hours (corresponding to a 38-hour week). The law also makes working hours between 8 p.m. and midnight more flexible, as they will no longer be considered as night work and will not entitle employees to any compensation.[31]
The government wants to increase
On 26 November 2022, De Croo and foreign minister Hadja Lahbib visited Ukraine, meeting president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledging continued Belgian support to Ukraine.[33]
In November 2023, De Croo called the Israeli bombing campaign in the
On 26 February 2024 DeCroo travelled to Paris, where
Political views and ideology
Like the majority of party leaders in Belgium, De Croo is in favour of greater limits on the political power of the Belgian monarch. He is of the opinion that the monarch's power should be ceremonial, similar to that of other Western European monarchs.[41]
Personal life
De Croo is married to Annik Penders and they have two children.
Other activities
European Union organizations
- European Investment Bank (EIB), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (since 2018)[45]
- European Stability Mechanism, member of the Board of Governors (since 2018)[46]
International organizations
- African Development Bank (AfDB), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors[47]
- Asian Development Bank (ADB), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors[48]
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (since 2018)[49]
Non-profit organizations
- World Economic Forum (WEF), member of the Europe Policy Group (since 2017)[50]
Honours
- Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2023)[51]
- Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (2024)[52]
References
- ^ "De Heer Alexander De Croo" [Mr. Alexander De Croo]. wwwpr.belgium.be (in Dutch). 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Biography". www.hermandecroo.be. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Wie is Alexander?" [Who is Alexander?]. www.alexanderdecroo.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Alexander De Croo is nieuwe premier: naast "zoon van" ook stemmentrekker en voorstander van gendergelijkheid" [Alexander De Croo is the new prime minister: in addition to being "son of", he is also a vote-puller and a supporter of gender equality] (in Dutch). VRT Nws. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Alexander De Croo verrassend nieuwe voorzitter Open Vld" [Alexander De Croo Surprising New Chairman Open Vld] (in Dutch). De Morgen. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Open VLD kiest met Alexander De Croo voor avontuur" [Open VLD Opts for Adventure with Alexander De Croo] (in Dutch). De Standaard. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Alexander De Croo". The Bulletin. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "Belgium's Five-Party Coalition Government Collapses". The Guardian. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Opvolger Alexander De Croo legt de eed af in Senaat" [Successor Alexander De Croo takes the oath in the Senate] (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Alexander De Croo is nieuwe premier: naast "zoon van" ook stemmentrekker en voorstander van gendergelijkheid" [Alexander De Croo is the New Prime Minister: in Addition to Being "son of", he is also a Vote-Puller and a Supporter of Gender Equality] (in Dutch). Radio 1. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Vincent Van Quickenborne ruilt Kortrijk opnieuw in voor Brussel" [Vincent Van Quickenborne Exchanges Kortrijk for Brussels Again] (in Dutch). MSN. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Gwendolyn Rutten is nieuwe voorzitter Open VLD" [Gwendolyn Rutten is the New Chairwoman of Open VLD] (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Biografie" [Biography]. www.decroo.belgium.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Dit zijn de ministers van de regering-Michel I" [These are the Ministers of the Michel I Government] (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Van de regering-Michel naar de regering-Wilmès: een komen en gaan van ministers" [From the Michel Government to the Wilmès Government: A Coming and Going of Ministers] (in Dutch). VRT NWS. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Belgium Suspends Financial Aid for Burundi Elections". Al-Jazeera. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ Stephanie Nebehay (19 April 2017), "Gates Backs Big Pharma Push to Wipe out Tropical Diseases". Reuters. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Belgium". www.shedecides.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Belgium's Government Loses Majority over UN Migration Pact". The Guardian. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "De Block terug op Asiel & Migratie, De Crem en De Backer worden minister: zo ziet regering-Michel II eruit" [De Block Back at Asylum & Migration, De Crem and De Backer Become Ministers: This is What Michel II Government Looks Like] (in Dutch). VRT NWS. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "#SheIsEqual Campaign for Women's Rights Exceeds Wildest Expectations". www.diplomatie.belgium.be. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Belgium Forms New Government after 16-Month Deadlock". Reuters. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Alexander De Croo eerste ondervoorzitter" [Alexander De Croo first vice-chairman] (in Dutch). Knack. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- VRT(in Dutch). Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Flemish Liberal Alexander De Croo to be Appointed Belgium's Prime Minister". 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Analist Wouter Verschelden schetst vernietigend beeld van vorming regering-De Croo: "Ik probeer nooit negatief te zijn, maar..."". 10 July 2021.
- ^ "POLITICO Brussels Playbook: Slovenian takeover - Southern fiscal front - Travel reloaded". Politico. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "La pornostar Eveline Dellai e la chat con il premier belga Alexander De Croo: "Sì, voleva vedermi, ma non è l'unico"" [The Pornstar Eveline Dellai and the chat with Belgian Premier Alexander De Croo: "Yes, he wanted to see me, but he's not the only one."] (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ "Regering-De Croo is meest vrouwelijke ooit: tien vrouwen en tien mannen" [De Croo Government is the Most Feminine Ever:Ten Women and Ten Men] (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Five workers confirmed dead after school collapses in Antwerp, Belgium". South China Morning Post. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Emploi. La Belgique s'invente une semaine de quatre jours à sa façon". 16 February 2022.
- ^ "In Belgium, the Greens oppose increased military spending". 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Ukraine". The Brussels Times. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Shankar, Priyanka (10 November 2023). "'Inhumane': Top Belgium officials criticise Israeli bombing of Gaza". Aljazeera.
- ^ "Alexander De Croo à Rafah : de la nuance en temps de guerre". 27 November 2023.
- ^ "EU seeks more ammunition for Ukraine to reverse Putin's advance". luxtimes.lu.
- ^ "France's Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine". Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Belgium buys 200 million euros' worth of ammunition for Ukraine". 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Belgium releases €200 million for ammunition to Ukraine".
- ^ "La Belgique débloque 200 millions d'euros d'aide pour l'Ukraine". Le Soir (in French). 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Meerderheid wil macht koning inperken" [Majority Wants to Limit the Power of the King] (in Dutch). VRT NWS. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Wie is Alexander De Croo, Belgiës kersverse premier? "Hij kent niks van politiek", zei zijn moeder ooit. Ze kreeg ongelijk" [Who is Alexander De Croo, Belgium's Brand New Prime Minister? "He Doesn't Know Anything about Politics," His Mother Once Said. She was Proven Wrong] (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Alexander De Croo verlaat het ziekenhuis". Gazet van Antwerpen. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "5 things to know about Belgium's new Prime Minister Alexander De Croo". 30 September 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ "Board of Governors". www.eib.org. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Board of Governors: Alexander De Croo". www.esm.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "AfDB Annual Report 2017" (PDF). www.afdb.org. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Board of Governors". Asian Development Bank. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Board of Governors". www.ebrd.com/. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Europe Policy Group" (PDF). www3.weforum.org. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Image".
- ^ Patrick Van Kitwejk (16 April 2024). Alexander De Croo (right) at the state banquet for the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in Belgium. Getty Images.
External links
- Media related to Alexander De Croo at Wikimedia Commons
- Quotations related to Alexander De Croo at Wikiquote