Wilfried Martens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilfried Martens
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Martens in 2010
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| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 17 December 1981 – 7 March 1992 |
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| Monarch | Baudouin |
| Preceded by | Mark Eyskens |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Luc Dehaene |
| In office 3 March 1979 – 6 April 1981 |
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| Monarch | Baudouin |
| Preceded by | Paul Vanden Boeynants |
| Succeeded by | Mark Eyskens |
| President of the European People's Party | |
| In office 16 July 1990 – 9 October 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Jacques Santer |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Daul |
| Leader of the European People's Party-European Democrats | |
| In office 20 July 1994 – 20 July 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Leo Tindemans |
| Succeeded by | Hans-Gert Pöttering |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wilfried Achiel Emma Martens
19 April 1936 Sleidinge, Belgium |
| Died | 9 October 2013 (aged 77) Lokeren, Belgium |
| Political party | Christian People's Party |
| Spouses |
Lieve Verschroeven
(m. 1962; div. 1997)Ilse Schouteden
(m. 1998; div. 2007)Miet Smet
(m. 2008–2013) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Catholic University of Leuven |
Wilfried Achiel Emma Martens (19 April 1936 – 9 October 2013) was an important Belgian politician. He served as the prime minister of Belgium two times. His first term was from 1979 to 1981. His second term lasted longer, from 1981 to 1992.
Martens was a member of the Flemish Christian People's Party. As prime minister, he helped change Belgium into a federal state. This means power was shared more between the central government and different regions. He also helped start the European People's Party, a big group of political parties in Europe.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Wilfried Martens was born on 19 April 1936. His family lived in a village called Sleidinge in East Flanders, Belgium. His parents were small farmers.
He went to the Catholic University of Leuven. He studied law and finished his degree in 1960. While he was a student, Martens became active in the Flemish Movement. This movement worked to protect the rights and culture of the Flemish people in Belgium.
In 1957, he became well-known. He was the president of the Flemish Youth Committee. He organized a march to protest that the Flemish people were not well represented. This was for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. He was even arrested during a protest at the opening of the fair.
Political Career Highlights
In 1965, Martens joined the Christian People's Party. This party is now known as the Christian Democratic and Flemish party. He led the party as chairman from 1972 to 1979.
He was a representative in the Chamber of Representatives from 1974 to 1991. Later, he served as a Senator from 1991 to 1994.
Leading Belgium as Prime Minister
Wilfried Martens was Prime Minister in nine different coalition governments. These governments were called Martens I through Martens IX. His time as prime minister was very important for Belgium.
The 1980s had a difficult economic time. Martens had to deal with this economic crisis. He also oversaw major changes to Belgium's government. These changes happened in 1980 and 1988. They helped Belgium become a federal state. This meant that regions like Flanders and Wallonia gained more power.
European Leadership Roles
Martens also played a big role in European politics. He helped create the European People's Party (EPP) in 1976. The EPP is a group of center-right political parties from many European countries. He became the EPP President in 1992 and held this position until he passed away.
He worked to bring different European political groups together. He helped merge the European Union of Christian Democrats (EUCD) with the EPP in 1996. He also helped combine the European Democrat Union (EDU) into the EPP in 2002. Bringing these groups together made the EPP the largest European political party. This is seen as a major achievement in his European work.
From 1994 to 1998, he was a Member of the European Parliament. During this time, he led the EPP Group in the Parliament. He also served as President of the Christian Democrat International (CDI) for a period.
In 2008, he returned to Belgian politics briefly. He helped resolve a political crisis that was happening in the country.
Education and Awards
Wilfried Martens had a doctorate in law. He also studied notarial law and philosophy. He even studied international politics at Harvard University in the United States. He worked as a lawyer at the Ghent court of appeal.
He received many awards for his work. In 1998, he was given the Charles V European Award. This award recognized his important contributions to European integration.
Personal Life
Wilfried Martens had five children. He had two children, Kris and Anne, from his first marriage to Lieve Verschroeven. He had three more children, Sarah, Sophie, and Simon, with Ilse Schouteden. He married Ilse in 1998. Later, in 2007, he divorced his second wife.
In 2008, he married Miet Smet. She was also a former Belgian minister. This was his third marriage and her first.
Passing and Legacy
Wilfried Martens passed away peacefully at his home in Lokeren on 9 October 2013. He was 77 years old.
Many important people shared their thoughts about him. Elio Di Rupo, who was the Belgian prime minister at the time, called him a "true statesman." He also said Martens was one of the "fathers of federal Belgium." Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, praised him as a great leader for Belgium and Europe.
Martens received a state funeral. He was buried in the cemetery of Campo Santo.
The EPP has a special research center called the Centre for European Studies. This center was renamed after him to the "Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies." This decision was made in 2014 to honor his contributions.
Honours and Awards
Belgium:
- Minister of State, a special title given by the King.
- Grand officer in the Order of Leopold
- Grand Cross in the Order of Leopold II
- Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown
International Honours
Austria: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold, Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1985)
France:
- Knight Grand Cross in the National Order of Merit (1983)
- Grand Officer in the Legion of Honour
Germany: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1984)
Greece: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Phoenix
Iceland: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1979)
Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1986)
Mexico: "Banda" of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (1985)
Portugal:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (1982)
- Grand Cross in the Order of Prince Henry (1987)
Spain: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1980)
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Luxemburg: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Oak Crown (1984)- Grand Officer in the Ordre du Croissant vert, Commores (1982)
See also
In Spanish: Wilfried Martens para niños
- Pierre Carette
- Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies
