Willy Claes
Willy Claes | |
---|---|
8th Secretary General of NATO | |
In office 17 October 1994 – 20 October 1995 | |
Preceded by | Sergio Balanzino (Acting) Manfred Wörner |
Succeeded by | Sergio Balanzino (Acting)
Minister of Foreign Affairs |
In office 7 March 1992 – 10 October 1994 | |
Prime Minister | Jean-Luc Dehaene |
Preceded by | Mark Eyskens |
Succeeded by | Frank Vandenbroucke |
Personal details | |
Born | Different Socialist Party | 24 November 1938
Alma mater | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
Willem Werner Hubert "Willy" Claes
Claes was born in Hasselt, Belgium. He graduated in political and diplomatic sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Political career
Claes began his political career in the Hasselt city council. In 1968, he was elected to the national parliament. In 1972, he entered the cabinet for the first time as minister of education. Between 1973 and 1992, he was minister of economic affairs of Belgium three separate times. He also served as deputy prime minister five times, and was an important negotiator in the formation of coalition governments during the 1980s.
Claes was
Claes was also Secretary General of NATO from 1994 until 1995, when he resigned after the discovery of a bribe of over 50 million Belgian francs (BEF), accepted at the time he was minister of economic affairs and connected to the defence contract negotiations with Agusta and Dassault. A criminal trial was handled by the Court of Cassation, which is responsible for cases involving minister in function. Claes received a 60 000 BEF fine, a three-year probationary sentence and a five-year prohibition on running for public office. An appeal at the European Court of Human Rights resulted in the confirmation of the Belgian sentence.
Musical career
Claes is known for being a pianist and has frequently performed concerts. Even as secretary-general of the N.A.T.O., he had a piano in his residence to keep in practice. [2]
Honours
- Minister of State
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II.[3]
References
- ^ Decan, Rik, Wie is wie in Vlaanderen 2000–2002, Brussel: BRD, 1999.
- ^ https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_138046.htm
- ^ "De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers". dekamer.be.
External links
Media related to Willy Claes at Wikimedia Commons