Jan Jambon
| Jan Jambon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 11 October 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Charles Michel |
| Preceded by | Melchior Wathelet |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 April 1960 Genk, Belgium |
| Political party | New Flemish Alliance |
| Website | Party website |
Jan Jambon (born 26 April 1960 in Genk) is a Belgian politician affiliated to the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). He replaced Kris Peeters as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 2007. N-VA was at that time partners with the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams party.[1] In June 2010 and May 2014 he was re-elected on an N-VA list.[2]
He became mayor of Brasschaat in 2013.
In October 2014 he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior in the Michel Government.
Controversies
Birthday of Sint-Maartensfonds
Jan Jambon has been criticized for having given a speech in 2001 during the 50th birthday of Sint-Maartensfonds, an association of former Flemish soldiers who were fighting alongside Nazi Germany troops on the Eastern front during World War II. In October 2014, replying to these remarks, Jambon declared the following as part of an interview.
| “ | The collaboration was a mistake. The Flemish movement was isolated for several years. But it's easier said than done. The people who collaborated with the Germans had their reasons. Me, I was not living during that time.[3] | ” |
These sentences have been criticized by several Belgian politicians,[4] as well as the Social-Democrat Group Leader in the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella.[5]
Death threats
Jambon told a Flemish television chain in October 2014 that he had received death threats. He stated that one of those threats was written by someone claiming to be an extremist Muslim. Theo Francken also reported receiving death threats.[6]
References
- ↑ "De Kamerleden". De Kamer BE (in Dutch). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ Torfs, Michael (25 October 2013). "Flemish nationalist Jan Jambon under fire". Flanders News BE. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Jan Jambon: 'Les gens qui ont collaboré avec les Allemands avaient leurs raisons'" (in French). La Libre Belgique. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ↑ R.T., Collaboration avec les nazis : le nouveau gouvernement belge tangue déjà, Le Parisien 13/10/2014.
- ↑ MB.,"European social-democrats 'very concerned'", vrt news 15/10/2014.
- ↑ http://www.lalibre.be/actu/politique-belge/jambon-et-francken-recoivent-des-menaces-de-mort-544ce95b3570a5ad0ede03e1
External links
-
Media related to Jan Jambon at Wikimedia Commons
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Melchior Wathelet |
Minister of the Interior 2014–present |
Incumbent |
|