Charles Michel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Michel
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Official portrait, 2019
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| President of the European Council | |
| In office 1 December 2019 – 30 November 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Donald Tusk |
| Succeeded by | António Costa |
| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 11 October 2014 – 27 October 2019 |
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| Monarch | Philippe |
| Deputy | Jan Jambon Kris Peeters Koen Geens Didier Reynders Alexander De Croo |
| Preceded by | Elio Di Rupo |
| Succeeded by | Sophie Wilmès |
| President of the Reformist Movement | |
| In office 18 February 2019 – 29 November 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Olivier Chastel |
| Succeeded by | Georges-Louis Bouchez |
| In office 14 February 2011 – 10 October 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Didier Reynders |
| Succeeded by | Olivier Chastel |
| Minister of Development Cooperation | |
| In office 21 December 2007 – 14 February 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Guy Verhofstadt Yves Leterme Herman Van Rompuy |
| Preceded by | Armand De Decker |
| Succeeded by | Olivier Chastel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Yves Jean Ghislain Michel
21 December 1975 Namur, Belgium |
| Political party | Reformist Movement |
| Other political affiliations |
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Spouse | Amélie Derbaudrenghien |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | Université libre de Bruxelles University of Amsterdamˈ |
Charles Michel (born 21 December 1975) is a Belgian politician. He served as the President of the European Council from 2019 to 2024. Before that, he was the Prime Minister of Belgium from 2014 to 2019.
Michel became the Minister of Development Cooperation in 2007 when he was 31. He later became the leader of the Reformist Movement (MR) party in 2011. In 2014, his party did well in the federal election. After talks with other parties, Charles Michel became Prime Minister of Belgium. He was sworn in on 11 October 2014. This made him the youngest Belgian prime minister since 1841.
In 2018, his government faced disagreements and he resigned. He stayed on as a temporary prime minister. In 2019, the European Council chose him to be its new president. He started this role on 1 December 2019. In January 2024, he first said he would leave his role to run in another election. But he soon changed his mind and decided to finish his term.
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About Charles Michel
Charles Michel was born in Namur, Wallonia, Belgium, on 21 December 1975. His father, Louis Michel, was also a well-known politician. Charles started his political journey at age 16. He joined a youth political group.
In 1994, when he was 18, he was elected as a local councilor. He studied law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the University of Amsterdam. He became a lawyer in Brussels in 1998. Charles Michel speaks French, Dutch, and English.
Early Political Career
After finishing university, Charles Michel was elected to the federal parliament in 1999. He was only 23 years old. In 2000, at age 25, he became a regional minister in Wallonia. This made him the youngest regional minister in Belgian history. He also became the mayor of Wavre in 2006.
In December 2007, Michel became the Minister of Development Cooperation. He held this job in several governments. In 2011, he was elected President of the MR party. He then left his role as minister.
Prime Minister of Belgium
After the 2014 federal election, Charles Michel helped form a new government. On 7 October 2014, an agreement was reached. Charles Michel was chosen to be the new prime minister. He was the youngest Belgian prime minister in 173 years.
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In 2016, a "tax shift" began in Belgium. This aimed to increase the take-home pay for people with lower incomes. It lowered social security payments. However, the tax on electricity went up. Taxes on alcohol, diesel, tobacco, and soft drinks also increased.
In December 2018, his government faced a crisis. There were disagreements about an international agreement called the Global Compact for Migration. One of his coalition partners left the government. Michel then offered his government's resignation to the King. He remained in office as a temporary prime minister during the next election and government talks.
President of the European Council
On 2 July 2019, Charles Michel was chosen as the President of the European Council. This is one of the most important leadership roles in the European Union.
On 20 July 2020, Michel announced a big agreement. It was about a recovery plan called Next Generation EU. This plan and the EU budget would help countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In August 2020, Michel showed support for Greece and Cyprus. They were having a conflict with Turkey over gas exploration. In September 2020, he also expressed concern about fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. He asked Armenia and Azerbaijan to stop fighting.
In 2021, there was tension between France, the U.S., and Australia. This was because of a defense agreement called AUKUS. Michel said there was a "lack of transparency and loyalty" from the United States.
During his time as president, there were some internal disagreements. Some people criticized how EU summits were organized. A diplomatic incident called "Sofagate" showed some tension between him and the European Commission President.
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU placed sanctions on Russia. Charles Michel suggested that frozen Russian assets could be used to help rebuild Ukraine.
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In September 2022, Michel met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They talked about working more closely together. In February 2023, he met with the Ethiopian Prime Minister. They aimed to improve relations between the EU and Ethiopia.
In September 2023, Michel spoke out against Azerbaijan's actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. He urged them to stop military activities. In October 2023, he said Russia "betrayed the Armenian people."
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In January 2024, Michel announced he would step down as President of the European Council. He planned to run in the 2024 European Parliament election. However, he changed his mind later that month. He decided to finish his current term instead.
Helping in Georgia
After the 2020 election in Georgia, the country faced a political crisis. The ruling party won, but opposition parties said the election was unfair. They refused to join parliament. When an opposition leader was arrested, protests started.
In March 2021, Charles Michel visited Georgia. He helped lead talks between the prime minister and the opposition. He also appointed a diplomat to help mediate the crisis. In April 2021, an agreement was signed after weeks of talks. Michel praised the agreement. He said it would help Georgia move towards a "Euro-Atlantic future." However, later, the largest opposition party did not accept the agreement. The ruling party also withdrew from it.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
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In 2024, during the third year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Charles Michel wrote an article. He suggested that Europe should shift to a "war-time economy." This would mean changing how money is spent to support defense.
Honours and Awards
- Grand Officer in the Order of Leopold (2014)
- Minister of State (2019)
- Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class (2021)
Personal Life
Charles Michel is married to Amélie Derbaudrenghien Michel. They have two children together. He also has a son from a previous relationship. They got married in the summer of 2021 in a small ceremony.
See also
In Spanish: Charles Michel para niños
