Steve Stevaert

Steve Stevaert
Steve Stevaert
Born	Robert Stevaert (1954-04-12) April 12, 1954 Rijkhoven, Belgium
Nationality	Belgium
Occupation	politician, bar owner

Steve Stevaert (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈstif ˈsteː.vaːrt]) (born April 12, 1954 in Rijkhoven as Robert Stevaert [Dutch pronunciation: [ˈroː.bərt ˈsteː.vaːrt]]) is a Belgian politician of the Flemish Socialist Party: the SP.A.^[1]

After his studies at the "Hoger Rijksinstituut voor Toerisme, Hotelwezen en Voedingsbedrijven", Stevaert started as a bar owner in 1972. He became politically active in 1982 under the wings of his mentor Willy Claes. Stevaert was elected to the Provincial Council of Limburg from 1985 to 1995.

He became mayor and member of the city council of Hasselt in 1995. There he became famous for his policy of free public transport in 1997, which gave him his nickname "Steve Stunt". Stevaert was in 1995 also elected to the Flemish parliament and was re-elected in 1999 and 2004.

Stevaert served as Flemish minister of Public Works, Transport and Spatial planning from 1998 to 1999 and as Flemish minister of Mobility, Transport and Public Works from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned having become chairman of his party, succeeding Patrick Janssens.

He was chairman from 2003 until he resigned on May 25, 2005, having been appointed governor of the province Limburg, in which function he succeeded governor Hilde Houben-Bertrand. He became the 15th governor, and also the first 'socialist' governor of this province. Caroline Gennez succeeded him as temporary chairman, until Johan Vande Lanotte became officially elected as the new chairman in October 2005. On June 9, 2009, the day of the Flemish regional elections, Stevaert announced he would step down as governor. He was succeeded by his fellow socialist Herman Reynders.

Steve Stevaert was given the honorary title of Minister of State on January 26, 2004.^[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steve Stevaert.

• Short biography of Stevaert at the website of the Flemish Parliament

v t e Different Socialist Party / (Socialistische Partij Anders) Leadership Karel Van Miert Frank Vandenbroucke Louis Tobback Fred Erdman Patrick Janssens Steve Stevaert Johan Vande Lanotte Caroline Gennez Bruno Tobback Former partyformation Belgian Labour Party / Belgische Werklieden Partij (BWP) Belgian Socialist Party / Belgische Socialistische Partij (BSP) Related organisations Jongsocialisten Zij-kant S-Plus Curieus sp.a rood Vonk FOS-socialistische solidariteit Symbols Charter of Quaregnon The Internationale May Day Red Rose Belgian socialist pilar Socialist Party / Parti Socialiste (PS) Socialist Party Sozialistische Partei (SP) General Federation of Belgian Labour / Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond (ABVV) Socialistische Mutualiteiten Center for Homecare / (Centrum voor) Thuiszorg De Morgen Vermeylenfonds Rode Valken