| Jaak Gabriëls | |
|---|---|
Jaak Gabriels |
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| Born | Petrus Josephus Jacobus Gabriëls 22 September 1943 Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgium |
| Occupation | politician |
Petrus Josephus Jacobus "Jaak" Gabriëls (born 22 September 1943) is a Belgian politician and member of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) (Dutch: Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten or VLD). He graduated in 1965 at the Catholic University of Leuven as Master of Philosophy and Arts. He started his political career as a Provincial Councillor for Limburg from 1974 to 1977. In 1977 he became the Mayor of Bree,[1] which he still is today, and Member of the Chamber of Representatives. From 1995 to 1999 he was a Member of the Flemish Parliament.
He was the leader of the People's Union (Dutch: Volksunie or VU) from 1986 to 1992 and was a founding member of the VLD. He also was Federal Minister of Agriculture[2] and middle class (from 1999 to 2001) and Flemish Minister of Economy, Foreign Trade and Housing (from 2001 to 2003). He again became a Member of the Flemish Parliament in 2003 and he became a Minister of State in 2004.[3]