Theo Kelchtermans (born 27 June 1943 in

Peer, Belgium Peer () is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgium. On January 1, 2006, Peer had a total population of 15,810. The total area is 86.95 km² which gives a population density of 182 inhabitants per km� ...

) is a

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...

politician.

Biography

Kelchtermans was born on 27 June 1943 in

. Kelchtermans graduated with a degree in applied psychology at the

Catholic University of Leuven University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to: * Old University of Leuven (1425–1797) * State University of Leuven (1817–1835) * Catholic University of ...

. He worked as a consultant at the CLB center of

Neerpelt Neerpelt (, literally ''Lower Pelt'') is a town in Pelt and a former municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. In 2018, the municipality had a total population of 17,174. The total area is 42.78 km². Effective 1 January 2019, ...

. He was from 1975 to 1985 member of the Regional Economic Council for Flanders (GERV). From 1974 to 1981, he served as county councilor in

Limburg Limburg or Limbourg may refer to: Regions * Limburg (Belgium), a province since 1839 in the Flanders region of Belgium * Limburg (Netherlands), a province since 1839 in the south of the Netherlands * Diocese of Limburg, Roman Catholic Diocese in ...

. Kelchtermans serve from 1980 to 2013 mayor of Peer, where he served on the town council from 1977 to 1980. In 2013, he left the position as mayor of Peer, after which he was succeeded by Steven Matheï.

Parliamentary career

He had a long parliamentary career. From 1981 to 1991, he served as a member of the Chamber of Representatives. Then, he serves as a member of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

from 1991 to 1995 and 1999 and 2003. After his second term as senator, he served again as a Representative. In the time from December 1981 to May 1995, he served a dual mandate that allowed him to also sit on the Flemish Council. The Flemish Council from October 21, 1980, the successor to the Cultural Council for the Dutch Cultural Community, which was installed on December 7, 1971, and was the forerunner of the current Flemish Parliament. At the first direct elections to the Flemish Parliament on May 21, 1995, he was elected in the constituency Hasselt Tongeren-Maaseik. He stayed for one month the

Flemish Parliament The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , formerly called Flemish Council or ''Vlaamse Raad'') constitutes the legislative power in Flanders for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and as a cultural communi ...

until he again took the oath as Flemish minister on June 20, 1995. Between 1985 and 1999, he also held various ministerial posts in the Flemish Executive (1985–1995) and the

Government of Flanders The Flemish Government ( nl, Vlaamse regering ) is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region of Belgium. It consists of a government cabinet, headed by the Minister-President and accountable to the Flemish Parliament, a ...

(1995–1999). From 1985 to 1988, he was regional minister of Education in the Government under Prime Minister

Gaston Geens Gaston C. S. A. Geens (10 June 1931 – 5 June 2002) was a Belgian politician and minister-president of Flanders. Geens received a Master in Law from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven as well as a licentiate of economy. In 1961 Geens, togeth ...

. In 1988, he was community Minister for Employment, Education and the Civil Service in the third term government of Gaston Geens. From 1988 to 1992, he was regional minister for Public Works, Transport and Planning in the fourth term government under Geens. From 1992 to 1995, he was regional minister of Public Works, Planning and Home Affairs in the second term of

Luc Van den Brande Luc Van den Brande (born 13 October 1945) is a Flemish politician, member of the CD&V and was Minister-president of Flanders from 21 January 1992 until 13 July 1999. He took the initiative to create the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VI ...

. From 1995 to 1999, he was Flemish Minister for Environment and Employment.

Timeline of career

*1974–1981 County Councillor Limburg *1977–2012 Councillor Peer *1977–1980 Peer Ships *1980–2012 Mayor Peer *1981–1991 Member of Parliament *1981–1995 Member Flemish Council *1985–1988 Community Minister of Education and Training *1988 Community Minister for Employment, Education and Civil Service *1988–1992 Community Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Country Furnishings *1991–1995 Senator *1992–1995 Flemish Minister for Public Works, Planning and Home Affairs *1995 Flemish Parliament *1995–1999 Flemish Minister for Environment and Employment *1999–2003 Senator *2003–2007 Member of Parliament

Honours

* 2007 : Knight grand Cross in the

Order of Leopold II The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgi ...

. * 1999: grand Officer in the Order of Leopold.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelchtermans, Theo 1943 births Living people Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II 20th-century Belgian politicians 21st-century Belgian politicians KU Leuven alumni