| Roland Duchâtelet | |
|---|---|
| Senator | |
| In office 28 June 2007 – June 2011 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 November 1946 Merksem |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Political party | Open VLD |
| Alma mater | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
| Website | www.rolandduchatelet.be |
Roland Duchâtelet (Merksem, 14 November 1946) is a Belgian businessman who turned his progressive liberal ideology into a political movement that he called Vivant. He also chairs a notable soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V.. On 22 June 2011 he bought another club: Standard de Liège.
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Duchâtelet studied civil engineering and economics, and obtained an MBA at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. During his student years he participated in the 1968 student revolts.
In 1990 he became involved in micro-electronics, while he worked for Xtrion. He founded several multinational corporations, of which Melexis,[1] which produces semi-conductors is most well known. Other corporations include X-Fab,[2] which also produces semi-conductors, Epiq,[3] which produces electronic systems, the online-television channel TVLokaal.com, Melexis and the holding Elex. He became multimillionaire. He also manages the internet portal AdValvas.be. He also chairs the first division Belgian League soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V.
In 1994 he began to support the political party BANAAN or "Beter Alternatieven Nastreven Als Apathisch Nietsdoen" (Better seeking for alternatives than doing nothing in apathy") financially. This party was committed to a basic income and a green tax shift. In the same year He wrote his political manifest "NV België, verslag aan de aandeelhouders" (Joint stock company Belgium, a report to the share holders). In his book, he pled for economic and political transparency. He emphasized the necessity of sustainable development in a globalized world economy. He also proposed to lower Belgium's public expenditure by 30%
After the 1995 elections in which BANAAN performed poorly, Duchâtelet founded the party/political movement Vivant which entered in federal, regional and communal elections. Duchâtelet is party chair and has been candidate in every election.
In the movie "La vie politique des Belges" (2002) by Jan Bucquoy, Duchâtelet is depicted in Vivant's 1999 election campaign.
In 2004 Vivant entered a political alliance with the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) and Duchâtelet published his second book "De weg naar meer netto binnenlands geluk" ("The road to more net domestic happiness").
In 2007 his party merged with the VLD,[4] which entered in the next elections as Open VLD.[5] He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 2007.[6]