Former Belgian Chairman of the Senate Frank Swaelen dies at 77
{{date|December 23, 2007}}
{{Belgium}}
[[w:Minister of State#Netherlands and Belgium|Minister of State]] and former [[w:President of the Belgian Senate|Chairman of the Senate]] of [[Belgium]] [[w:Frank Swaelen|Frank Swaelen]] died in [[w:Antwerp (city)|Antwerp]] at the age of 77. 

Frank Swaelen became a member of the [[w:Belgian Chamber of Representatives|Belgian Chamber of Representatives]] in 1968 and remained so for 17 years. From 1980 to 1981, he was Minister of Defence in the government of Prime Minister [[w:Wilfried Martens|Wilfried Martens]]. After this, he became the chairman of his party, the [[w:Christian Democratic and Flemish|Christian People's Party]] (CVP). In 1985 he left the Chamber of Representatives and joined the [[w:Belgian Senate|Belgian Senate]], which he presided over for more than ten years, from 1988 to 1999, before retiring from active politics. He was made a [[w:Minister of State#Netherlands and Belgium|minister of State]] in 1995.

In a reaction, [[w:Etienne Schouppe|Etienne Schouppe]], the interim chairman of [[w:Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]], the party that succeeded the CVP, praised Mr Swaelen and described him as "faithful, loyal and discreet." Prime Minister [[w:Guy Verhofstadt|Guy Verhofstadt]], on behalf of the government, offered his condolences to the family and friends of the former party chairman, minister of State and Chairman of the Senate. He stated in a reaction that "Frank Swaelen has made an important contribution to Belgian and international politics, as Representative, Minister of Defence, but above all as chairman of the CVP and Chairman of the Senate."

The Chamber of Representatives observed a minute of silence in honour of Mr Swaelen.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://destandaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF24122007_019
|title=Senaat eert Frank Swaelen
|author=
|pub=De Standaard Online
|date=December 24, 2007
|lang=Dutch}}
*{{source|url=http://destandaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF23122007_011
|title=Frank Swaelen overleden
|author=
|pub=De Standaard Online
|date=December 23, 2007
|lang=Dutch}}
*{{source|url=http://destandaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=DMF23122007_018
|title=REACTIES: 'Trouw, loyaal en discreet'
|author=
|pub=De Standaard Online
|date=December 23, 2007
|lang=Dutch}}
*{{source|url=http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/nieuws/politiek/071223_Frank_Swaelen_overleden
|title=Oud-CVP'er Frank Swaelen is overleden
|author=
|pub=Vrtnieuws.net
|date=December 23, 2007
|lang=Dutch}}
*{{source|url=http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/vrtnieuws.net/nieuws/politiek/071223_Swaelen_reax
|title="Bevlogen man met verantwoordelijkheid"
|author=
|pub=Vrtnieuws.net
|date=December 23, 2007
|lang=Dutch}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Belgium]]
[[Category:Obituaries]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

[[fr:Belgique : l'ancien président du Sénat Frank Swaelen est mort]]
Minister of State and former Chairman of the Senate of Belgium Frank Swaelen died in Antwerp at the age of 77. 

Frank Swaelen became a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 1968 and remained so for 17 years. From 1980 to 1981, he was Minister of Defence in the government of Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. After this, he became the chairman of his party, the Christian People's Party (CVP). In 1985 he left the Chamber of Representatives and joined the Belgian Senate, which he presided over for more than ten years, from 1988 to 1999, before retiring from active politics. He was made a minister of State in 1995.

In a reaction, Etienne Schouppe, the interim chairman of CD&V, the party that succeeded the CVP, praised Mr Swaelen and described him as "faithful, loyal and discreet." Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, on behalf of the government, offered his condolences to the family and friends of the former party chairman, minister of State and Chairman of the Senate. He stated in a reaction that "Frank Swaelen has made an important contribution to Belgian and international politics, as Representative, Minister of Defence, but above all as chairman of the CVP and Chairman of the Senate."

The Chamber of Representatives observed a minute of silence in honour of Mr Swaelen.


fr:Belgique : l'ancien président du Sénat Frank Swaelen est mort
Europe Belgium Obituaries Politics and conflicts