Wilfried Martens
Wilfried Martens | |
|---|---|
Martens in 1989 | |
| Leader of the European People's Party-European Democrats | |
| In office 20 July 1994 – 20 July 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Leo Tindemans |
| Succeeded by | Hans-Gert Pöttering |
| President of the European People's Party | |
| In office 16 July 1990 – 9 October 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jacques Santer |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Daul |
| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 17 December 1981 – 7 March 1992 | |
| Monarch | Baudouin |
| Preceded by | Mark Eyskens |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Luc Dehaene |
| In office 3 March 1979 – 6 April 1981 | |
| Monarch | Baudouin |
| Preceded by | Paul Vanden Boeynants |
| Succeeded by | Mark Eyskens |
| 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) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Catholic University of Leuven |
Wilfried Achiel Emma Martens (Dutch: [ˈʋɪlfrit ˈmɑrtəns] ⓘ; 19 April 1936 – 9 October 2013) was a Belgian politician who served as prime minister of Belgium from 1979 to 1981 and from 1981 to 1992. A member of the Flemish Christian People's Party, during his premiership he oversaw the transformation of Belgium into a federal state. He was one of the founders of the European People's Party.
During his time as prime minister, Martens led a series of centre-right and centre-left cabinets.