Born in Dendermonde on 21 september 1952 Married, two children
Studies
Bachelor in Law studies, University of Brussels VUB Master in Law studies, Ghent University RUG
Career
Attorney at Law (since 1975)
Member of Parliament: from 24-11-1991 until 12-04-1995, from 21-05-1995 till 05-05-1999 and since 13-5-2003
Directly elected Senator since 13-06-1999.
Member of the parliamentary hearing commission on Human Trade
Chairman of the parliamentary hearing commission on Dutroux-Nihoul and of the parliamentary hearing commission on 'kidnapped and missing children and sexually abused children'. (1996-1998)
Negociator 'Octopus' treaty and the Integrated Police Forces Act (07-12-1998)
Minister of Justice from 12 July 1999 until 12 July 2003
- Doctor Honoris Causa University of Ghent, 1999. - Profesor Honorifico de la Facultad de Ciencias Juridicias de la Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo ' 2001.
Delegate of the MBZ (Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeevaartinrichtingen) since 28-04-2003
Minister of Development Cooperation from 12 July 2003 to 17 July 2004
Publications
- Het V-Plan (Security project of the VLD party ' 1999) - Over bruggen bouwen (1999)
