Luc van den Brande
The Hon. Luc van den Brande is a Belgium/Flemish politician who was the Minister-President of Flanders-Belgium, the former President of the European Committee of the Regions, and an Advisory Board Member for the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD). He is married to Maria Baelus, and together they have three children.
Political Career
In 1977, Brande became a member of the Christian Democratic Group (CVP) till 1991. Also during 1977, he became a member of the Belgian House of Representatives for the district of Mechelen. Starting in 1984, he became the leader of the CVP till 1988. Soon after, he became the Minister of Labour and Employment. In 1991, he was elected the Senator for the Mechelen District when the Mechelen Government fell in 1991. He held this position till 1995. He was appointed Minister-President for the Government of Flanders and Minister for Economic Affairs from 1992 to 1995. He was re-elected at the Minister-President from 1995 to 1999. During this time, he also served as the Minister for Foreign Policy. He was appointed the President of the Commission for Foreign and European Affairs from 1999 to 2004. In 2005, he became a member of the CD&V group in the Flemish Parliament and also became a member of the Council of Europe. From 2008 to 2010, he became the first vice-president to become president of the European Committee of the Regions. In 2010, he became chairman of the Board of Directors at the Flemish Radio and Television Organization (VRT).
Education
The Hon. Luc van den Brande received a Doctor of Law from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in 1969. During that same year, he received license of notary at the Katholieke Universiteit. From 1970 to 1988, he took the Mechelen bar and subsequently became a lawyer.
