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Charles Michel

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Article Genealogy
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Charles Michel
NameCharles Michel
CaptionMichel in 2019
OfficePresident of the European Council
Term start1 December 2019
PredecessorDonald Tusk
Office2Prime Minister of Belgium
Term start211 October 2014
Term end227 October 2019
Monarch2Philippe
Predecessor2Elio Di Rupo
Successor2Sophie Wilmès
Office3Minister of Development Cooperation
Term start321 December 2007
Term end314 February 2011
Primeminister3Guy Verhofstadt, Yves Leterme, Herman Van Rompuy
Predecessor3Armand De Decker
Successor3Olivier Chastel
Birth date21 December 1975
Birth placeNamur, Belgium
PartyReformist Movement
Alma materUniversité libre de Bruxelles, University of Amsterdam

Charles Michel. He is a Belgian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Belgium from 2014 to 2019 and has been the President of the European Council since December 2019. The son of former European Commissioner Louis Michel, he became one of the youngest heads of government in Belgian history and later a key figure in coordinating the European Union's response to major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Early life and education

Born in Namur, he is the son of Louis Michel, a prominent politician who served as European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. He studied law at the Université libre de Bruxelles and later at the University of Amsterdam, becoming a qualified lawyer. His early political engagement was shaped within the family's Liberal Party tradition, and he was elected as a municipal councillor in Wavre at the age of 18.

Political career

His national political career began when he was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1999. He held several ministerial portfolios, notably serving as Minister of Development Cooperation in the governments of Guy Verhofstadt, Yves Leterme, and Herman Van Rompuy. In 2011, he succeeded Didier Reynders as the leader of the Reformist Movement, a French-speaking liberal party. His leadership was marked by efforts to modernize the party and appeal to younger voters.

Prime Minister of Belgium

Following the 2014 Belgian federal election, he formed a center-right coalition government with the New Flemish Alliance, the Christian Democratic and Flemish party, and the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats. His tenure as Prime Minister was dominated by challenges including security issues following the 2016 Brussels bombings, debates over Belgian federalism, and managing Belgium's commitments within NATO and the European Union. His government implemented a series of economic reforms and tax cuts before he resigned in 2019 to assume his European role.

President of the European Council

Elected by the European Council to succeed Donald Tusk, he took office during a period of significant upheaval for the bloc. His presidency has been defined by managing the European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the coordination of vaccine procurement and the landmark Next Generation EU recovery fund. He has played a central role in the European Union's unified response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, chairing summits that agreed on sweeping sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine. His term was extended in 2022 and is set to conclude in November 2024.

Political positions and views

Identified with classical liberalism and pro-Europeanism, he advocates for a more integrated and assertive European Union on the global stage, particularly in defense and economic policy. He has been a vocal supporter of free trade agreements and has emphasized the importance of transatlantic relations with the United States. On domestic Belgian issues, he has supported state reform and fiscal responsibility, often finding common cause with Flemish liberal parties.

Personal life

He is divorced from his former wife, with whom he has two children. He is in a relationship with Petra De Sutter, a Belgian politician who serves as Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and is a member of the Groen party. An avid runner, he has participated in the 20 km of Brussels race. He is fluent in French and Dutch, and also speaks English and some German.

Category:Presidents of the European Council Category:Prime Ministers of Belgium Category:Belgian lawyers