André Cools

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André Cools

André Cools at Saint-Gilles
Born August 1, 1927
Died July 18, 1991
Liège, Belgium
Occupation politician

André H.P. Cools (August 1, 1927 – July 18, 1991) was a Belgian socialist politician who was assassinated at Liège. His nickname was "Le maître de Flémalle" (Flémalle's master).

While the police was investigating the assassination, several scandals involving André Cools became public (like the Agusta-affair).

He was Belgian budget minister from 1968 to 1971, Deputy Prime Minister from 1969 to 1972, head of the Belgian Socialist Party from 1973 to 1978, head of the Parti Socialiste from 1978 to 1981, president of the Walloon Council from 1982 to 1985, and minister of the government of the Walloon Region from 1988 to 1990. He was also given the honorific title of Minister of State in 1983.

In 2003, a Liege trial started, accusing Richard Taxquet (former personal chauffeur and secretary for Alain van der Biest, a Parti Socialiste minister), Giuseppe "Pino" di Mauro, and others of involvement in the Cools murder. In January 2004, Taxquet and di Mauro was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment. Alain van der Biest, who was briefly incarcerated as a murder suspect, committed suicide in 2002.

Cools was noted for his pithy pronouncements. For example, when in 1984 he commented on who he thought the four greatest United States' Presidents had been, he said: 'Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Roosevelt and Roosevelt'.

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