Rulers: Belgium
Ministries, etc.
Party abbreviations: Cat=Catholic, CD&V=Christian Democratic and Flemish, CVP=Christian People's Party (Flemish; becomes CD&V in 2001), Lib=Liberal (from 1961, Party for Freedom and Progress; split in 1972 into PVV and PLP), MR=Reformist Movement, PLP=Party for Freedom and Progress (French Liberals; becomes PRLW in 1976), PRL=Liberal Reformist Party (becomes MR in May 2003), PRLW=Party for Reforms and Freedoms in Wallonia (becomes PRL in 1979), PS=Socialist Party (French), PSC=Social Christian Party (French), PVV=Party for Freedom and Progress (Flemish Liberals; becomes VLD in 1992), Soc=Socialist (split in 1978 into SP and PS), S-C=Social-Christian (split in 1968 into CVP and PSC), SP=Socialist Party (Flemish) (from 2001, Social Progressive Alternative), UDB=Belgian Democratic Union, VLD=Flemish Liberals and Democrats-Citizens Party (from 2007, Open VLD)
Key ministries
Foreign Affairs
Ministers
3 Sep 1939 - 11 Aug 1949 Paul-Henri Spaak (2nd time) Soc (b. 1899 - d. 1972)
(25 May 1940 - 8 Sep 1944 in exile [first in France,
from 25 Oct 1940 in London])
11 Aug 1949 - 23 Apr 1954 Paul van Zeeland (2nd time) S-C (b. 1893 - d. 1973)
23 Apr 1954 - 13 May 1957 Paul-Henri Spaak (3rd time) Soc (s.a.)
13 May 1957 - 26 Jun 1958 Victor Larock Soc (b. 1904 - d. 1977)
26 Jun 1958 - 25 Apr 1961 Pierre Wigny S-C (b. 1905 - d. 1986)
25 Apr 1961 - 19 Mar 1966 Paul-Henri Spaak (4th time) Soc (s.a.)
19 Mar 1966 - 26 Jan 1973 Pierre Harmel S-C; 1968: PSC (b. 1911)
26 Jan 1973 - 3 Jun 1977 Renaat van Elslande CVP (b. 1916 - d. 2000)
3 Jun 1977 - 18 May 1980 Henri Simonet Soc; 1978: PS (b. 1931 - d. 1996)
18 May 1980 - 17 Dec 1981 Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb PSC (b. 1936)
17 Dec 1981 - 19 Jun 1989 Léo Tindemans CVP (b. 1922)
19 Jun 1989 - 7 Mar 1992 Mark Eyskens CVP (b. 1933)
7 Mar 1992 - 10 Oct 1994 Willy Claes SP (b. 1938)
10 Oct 1994 - 22 Mar 1995 Frank Vandenbroucke SP (b. 1955)
22 Mar 1995 - 12 Jul 1999 Erik Derycke SP (b. 1949)
12 Jul 1999 - 20 Jul 2004 Louis Michel PRL/MR (b. 1947)
20 Jul 2004 - Karel De Gucht VLD (b. 1954)
Defense
Ministers
26 Sep 1944 - 12 Feb 1945 Fernand Demets Lib (b. 1884 - d. 1952)
12 Feb 1945 - 13 Mar 1946 Léon Mundeleer Lib (b. 1885 - d. 1964)
13 Mar 1946 - 11 Aug 1949 Raoul de Fraiteur - (b. 1895)
11 Aug 1949 - 8 Jun 1950 Albert Devèze Lib (b. 1881 - d. 1959)
8 Jun 1950 - 16 Aug 1950 Henri Moreau de Melen S-C (b. 1902 - d. 1992)
16 Aug 1950 - 23 Apr 1954 Etienne De Greef - (b. 1898 - d. 1961)
23 Apr 1954 - 26 Jun 1958 Antoon Spinoy Soc (b. 1906 - d. 1967)
26 Jun 1958 - 25 Apr 1961 Arthur Gilson S-C (b. 1915 - d. 2004)
25 Apr 1961 - 28 Jul 1965 Paul-Willem Segers (1st time) S-C (b. 1900 - d. 1983)
28 Jul 1965 - 19 Mar 1966 Ludovic Moyersoen S-C (b. 1904 - d. 1992)
19 Mar 1966 - 17 Jun 1968 Charles Poswick (1st time) Lib (b. 1924 - d. 1994)
17 Jun 1968 - 21 Jan 1972 Paul-Willem Segers (2nd time) CVP (s.a.)
21 Jan 1972 - 15 Oct 1979 Paul Vanden Boeynants PSC (b. 1919 - d. 2001)
15 Oct 1979 - 18 May 1980 José Desmarets PSC (b. 1925)
18 May 1980 - 22 Oct 1980 Charles Poswick (2nd time) PRL (s.a.)
22 Oct 1980 - 17 Dec 1981 Frank Swaelen CVP (b. 1930 - d. 2007)
17 Dec 1981 - 28 Nov 1985 Alfred Vreven PVV (b. 1937 - d. 2000)
28 Nov 1985 - 9 May 1988 François-Xavier de Donnéa PRL (b. 1941)
9 May 1988 - 7 Mar 1992 Guy Coëme PS (b. 1946)
7 Mar 1992 - 8 Dec 1994 Leo Delcroix CVP (b. 1949)
8 Dec 1994 - 23 Jun 1995 Karel Pinxten CVP (b. 1952)
23 Jun 1995 - 3 Sep 1995 Melchior Wathelet PSC (b. 1949)
3 Sep 1995 - 12 Jul 1999 Jean-Pol Poncelet PSC (b. 1950)
12 Jul 1999 - 21 Dec 2007 André Flahaut PS (b. 1955)
21 Dec 2007 - Pieter De Crem CD&V (b. 1962)
Finance
Ministers
1940 - 12 Feb 1945 Camille Gutt - (b. 1884 - d. 1971)
12 Feb 1945 - 2 Aug 1945 Gaston Eyskens (1st time) S-C (b. 1905 - d. 1988)
2 Aug 1945 - 2 Aug 1946 Franz De Voghel - (b. 1903 - d. 1995)
2 Aug 1946 - 20 Mar 1947 Jean Vauthier - (b. 1888 - d. 1980)
20 Mar 1947 - 11 Aug 1949 Gaston Eyskens (2nd time) S-C (s.a.)
11 Aug 1949 - 8 Jun 1950 Henri Liebaert (1st time) Lib (b. 1895 - d. 1977)
8 Jun 1950 - 15 Jan 1952 Jean Van Houtte (1st time) S-C (b. 1907 - d. 1991)
15 Jan 1952 - 23 Apr 1954 Albert-Edouard Janssen S-C (b. 1883 - d. 1966)
23 Apr 1954 - 26 Jun 1958 Henri Liebaert (2nd time) Lib (s.a.)
26 Jun 1958 - 25 Apr 1961 Jean Van Houtte (2nd time) S-C (s.a.)
25 Apr 1961 - 28 Jul 1965 André Dequae S-C (b. 1915 - d. 2006)
28 Jul 1965 - 19 Mar 1966 Gaston Eyskens (3rd time) S-C (s.a.)
19 Mar 1966 - 17 Jun 1968 Robert Henrion (1st time) - (b. 1915 - d. 1997)
17 Jun 1968 - 21 Jan 1972 Jean-Charles Snoy et
d'Oppuers PSC (b. 1907 - d. 1991)
21 Jan 1972 - 26 Jan 1973 André Vlerick CVP (b. 1919 - d. 1990)
26 Jan 1973 - 3 Jun 1977 Willy De Clercq (1st time) PVV (b. 1927)
3 Jun 1977 - 18 May 1980 Gaston Geens CVP (b. 1931 - d. 2002)
18 May 1980 - 29 Jun 1980 Robert Henrion (2nd time) PRL (s.a.)
29 Jun 1980 - 22 Oct 1980 Paul Hatry PRL (b. 1929)
22 Oct 1980 - 6 Apr 1981 Mark Eyskens (1st time) CVP (b. 1933)
6 Apr 1981 - 17 Dec 1981 Robert Vandeputte CVP (b. 1908 - d. 1997)
17 Dec 1981 - 6 Jan 1985 Willy De Clercq (2nd time) PVV (s.a.)
6 Jan 1985 - 28 Nov 1985 Frans Grootjans PVV (b. 1922 - d. 1999)
28 Nov 1985 - 9 May 1988 Mark Eyskens (2nd time) CVP (s.a.)
9 May 1988 - 19 Jun 1998 Philippe Maystadt PSC (b. 1948)
19 Jun 1998 - 12 Jul 1999 Jean-Jacques Viseur PSC (b. 1946)
12 Jul 1999 - Didier Reynders PRL/MR (b. 1958)
Interior
Ministers
26 Sep 1944 - 12 Feb 1945 Edmond Ronse Cat
12 Feb 1945 - 13 Mar 1946 Adolphe Van Glabbeke Lib (b. 1904 - d. 1959)
13 Mar 1946 - 31 Mar 1946 Jules Merlot Soc (b. 1885 - d. 1959)
31 Mar 1946 - 20 Mar 1947 Auguste Buisseret Lib (b. 1888 - d. 1965)
20 Mar 1947 - 11 Aug 1949 Pierre Vermeylen (1st time) Soc (b. 1904 - d. 1991)
11 Aug 1949 - 16 Aug 1950 Albert De Vleeschauwer S-C (b. 1897 - d. 1971)
16 Aug 1950 - 15 Jan 1952 Maurice Brasseur S-C (b. 1909 - d. 1996)
15 Jan 1952 - 23 Apr 1954 Ludovic Moyersoen S-C (b. 1904 - d. 1992)
23 Apr 1954 - 26 Jun 1958 Pierre Vermeylen (2nd time) Soc (s.a.)
26 Jun 1958 - 6 Nov 1958 Charles Héger S-C (b. 1902 - d. 1984)
6 Nov 1958 - 25 Apr 1961 René Lefebvre Lib (b. 1893 - d. 1976)
25 Apr 1961 - 28 Jul 1965 Arthur Gilson S-C (b. 1915 - d. 2004)
28 Jul 1965 - 19 Mar 1966 Alfons Vranckx Soc (b. 1907 - d. 1979)
19 Mar 1966 - 17 Jun 1968 Herman Vanderpoorten Lib (b. 1922 - d. 1984)
17 Jun 1968 - 21 Jan 1972 Lucien Harmegnies Soc (b. 1916 - d. 1994)
21 Jan 1972 - 26 Jan 1973 Renaat van Elslande CVP (b. 1916 - d. 2000)
26 Jan 1973 - 25 Apr 1974 Edouard Close Soc (b. 1929)
25 Apr 1974 - 11 Jun 1974 Charles Hanin PSC (b. 1914)
11 Jun 1974 - 3 Jun 1977 Joseph Michel (1st time) PSC (b. 1925)
3 Jun 1977 - 3 Apr 1979 Henri Boel Soc; 1978: SP (b. 1931)
3 Apr 1979 - 18 May 1980 Georges Gramme PSC (b. 1926 - d. 1985)
18 May 1980 - 22 Oct 1980 Philippe Moureaux PS (b. 1939)
22 Oct 1980 - 26 Feb 1981 Guy Mathot PS (b. 1941 - d. 2005)
26 Feb 1981 - 17 Dec 1981 Philippe Busquin PS (b. 1941)
17 Dec 1981 - 18 Oct 1986 Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb PSC (b. 1936)
18 Oct 1986 - 9 May 1988 Joseph Michel (2nd time) PSC (s.a.)
9 May 1988 - 10 Oct 1994 Louis Tobback (1st time) SP (b. 1938)
10 Oct 1994 - 24 Apr 1998 Johan Vande Lanotte SP (b. 1955)
24 Apr 1998 - 26 Sep 1998 Louis Tobback (2nd time) SP (s.a.)
26 Sep 1998 - 12 Jul 1999 Luc Van Den Bossche SP (b. 1947)
12 Jul 1999 - 12 Jul 2003 Antoine Duquesne PRL/MR (b. 1941)
12 Jul 2003 - Patrick Dewael VLD (b. 1955)
Justice
Ministers
26 Sep 1944 - 12 Feb 1945 Maurice Verbaet Cat (b. 1883 - d. 1957)
12 Feb 1945 - 2 Aug 1945 Charles du Bus de Warnaffe
(1st time) S-C (b. 1894 - d. 1965)
2 Aug 1945 - 13 Mar 1946 Marcel Grégoire UDB (b. 1902 - d. 1982)
13 Mar 1946 - 31 Mar 1946 Henri Rolin Soc (b. 1891 - d. 1973)
31 Mar 1946 - 2 Aug 1946 Adolphe Van Glabbeke Lib (b. 1904 - d. 1959)
2 Aug 1946 - 20 Mar 1947 Albert Lilar (1st time) Lib (b. 1900 - d. 1976)
20 Mar 1947 - 27 Nov 1948 Paul Struye S-C (b. 1896 - d. 1974)
27 Nov 1948 - 11 Aug 1949 Henri Moreau de Melen S-C (b. 1902 - d. 1992)
11 Aug 1949 - 8 Jun 1950 Albert Lilar (2nd time) Lib (s.a.)
8 Jun 1950 - 16 Aug 1950 Henri Carton de Wiart S-C (b. 1869 - d. 1951)
16 Aug 1950 - 15 Jan 1952 Ludovic Moyersoen S-C (b. 1904 - d. 1992)
15 Jan 1952 - 3 Sep 1952 Joseph Pholien S-C (b. 1884 - d. 1968)
3 Sep 1952 - 5 Dec 1952 Léonce Lagae S-C (b. 1894 - d. 1964)
5 Dec 1952 - 13 Dec 1952 Charles Héger (interim) S-C (b. 1902 - d. 1984)
13 Dec 1952 - 23 Apr 1954 Charles du Bus de Warnaffe
(2nd time) S-C (s.a.)
23 Apr 1954 - 26 Jun 1958 Albert Lilar (3rd time) Lib (s.a.)
26 Jun 1958 - 6 Nov 1958 Pierre Harmel S-C (b. 1911)
6 Nov 1958 - 3 Sep 1960 Laurent Merchiers Lib (b. 1904 - d. 1986)
3 Sep 1960 - 25 Apr 1961 Albert Lilar (4th time) Lib (s.a.)
25 Apr 1961 - 28 Jul 1965 Pierre Vermeylen Soc (b. 1904 - d. 1991)
28 Jul 1965 - 17 Jun 1968 Pierre Wigny S-C (b. 1905 - d. 1986)
17 Jun 1968 - 26 Jan 1973 Alfons Vranckx Soc (b. 1907 - d. 1979)
26 Jan 1973 - 3 Jun 1977 Herman Vanderpoorten
(1st time) PVV (b. 1922 - d. 1984)
3 Jun 1977 - 18 May 1980 Renaat van Elslande CVP (b. 1916 - d. 2000)
18 May 1980 - 22 Oct 1980 Herman Vanderpoorten
(2nd time) PVV (s.a.)
22 Oct 1980 - 17 Dec 1981 Philippe Moureaux PS (b. 1939)
17 Dec 1981 - 9 May 1988 Jean Gol PRL (b. 1942 - d. 1995)
9 May 1988 - 23 Jun 1995 Melchior Wathelet PSC (b. 1949)
23 Jun 1995 - 24 Apr 1998 Stefaan De Clerck CVP (b. 1951)
24 Apr 1998 - 12 Jul 1999 Tony Van Parys CVP (b. 1951)
12 Jul 1999 - 12 Jul 2003 Marc Verwilghen VLD (b. 1952)
12 Jul 2003 - 21 Dec 2007 Laurette Onkelinx (f) PS (b. 1958)
21 Dec 2007 - Jo Vandeurzen CD&V (b. 1958)
Parliament
Chamber of Representatives
Chairmen
21 Apr 1939 - 27 Apr 1954 Frans Van Cauwelaert S-C (b. 1880 - d. 1961)
27 Apr 1954 - 11 Nov 1958 Camille Huysmans Soc (b. 1871 - d. 1968)
11 Nov 1958 - 17 Apr 1961 Paul Kronacker Lib (b. 1897 - d. 1994)
27 Apr 1961 - 10 Mar 1974 Achille Van Acker Soc (b. 1898 - d. 1975)
30 Apr 1974 - 7 Jun 1977 André Dequae CVP (b. 1915 - d. 2006)
7 Jun 1977 - 14 Nov 1978 Edmond Leburton Soc; 1978: PS (b. 1915 - d. 1997)
3 Apr 1979 - 18 May 1980 Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb
(1st time) PSC (b. 1936)
20 May 1980 - 24 Oct 1980 Jean Defraigne (1st time) PRL (b. 1929)
24 Oct 1980 - 18 Dec 1981 Joseph Michel PSC (b. 1925)
18 Dec 1981 - 19 Jan 1988 Jean Defraigne (2nd time) PRL (s.a.)
19 Jan 1988 - 10 May 1988 Eric Vankeirsbilck CVP (b. 1935)
10 May 1988 - 12 Apr 1995 Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb
(2nd time) PSC (s.a.)
8 Jun 1995 - 28 Jun 1995 Jos Dupré CVP (b. 1928)
28 Jun 1995 - 1 Jul 1999 Raymond Langendries PSC (b. 1943)
1 Jul 1999 - 12 Jul 2007 Herman De Croo VLD (b. 1937)
12 Jul 2007 - Herman Van Rompuy CD&V (b. 1947)
Senate
Chairmen
26 Apr 1939 - 11 Nov 1947 Robert Gillon (1st time) Lib (b. 1884 - d. 1972)
11 Nov 1947 - 8 Nov 1949 Henri Rolin Soc (b. 1891 - d. 1973)
8 Nov 1949 - 27 Jun 1950 Robert Gillon (2nd time) Lib (s.a.)
27 Jun 1950 - 5 May 1954 Paul Struye (1st time) S-C (b. 1896 - d. 1974)
5 May 1954 - 24 Jun 1958 Robert Gillon (3rd time) Lib (s.a.)
24 Jun 1958 - 19 Oct 1973 Paul Struye (2nd time) S-C;
1968: CVP (s.a.)
19 Oct 1973 - 7 Jun 1977 Pierre Harmel CVP (b. 1911)
7 Jun 1977 - 23 Feb 1980 Robert Vandekerckhove CVP (b. 1917 - d. 1980)
5 Mar 1980 - 10 Mar 1988 Edward Leemans CVP (b. 1926 - d. 1998)
10 Mar 1988 - 16 May 1988 Roger Lallemand PS (b. 1932)
16 May 1988 - 11 Oct 1988 Lambert Kelchtermans CVP (b. 1929)
11 Oct 1988 - 14 Jul 1999 Frank Swaelen CVP (b. 1930 - d. 2007)
14 Jul 1999 - 20 Jul 2004 Armand De Decker (1st time) PRL/MR (b. 1948)
20 Jul 2004 - 12 Jul 2007 Anne-Marie Lizin (f) PS (b. 1949)
12 Jul 2007 - Armand De Decker (2nd time) MR (s.a.)