Miet Smet (5 April 1943 – 19 December 2024) was a Belgian politician for the

Christian Democratic and Flemish Christian Democratic and Flemish (, ; CD&V) is a Flemish Christian-democratic political party in Belgium. The party has historical ties to both trade unionism ( ACV) and trade associations ( UNIZO) and the Farmer's League. Until 2001, the party w ...

party (CD&V).

Career

In 1988, Smet became the president of the European Centre for Workers' Questions, a position which she held till 1995.

Career in national politics

Smet was the founder (1973), and first president (until 1982) of the Christian People's Party political women's organisation, Vrouw en Maatschappij (Woman and Society). She was elected to the

Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives The Chamber of Representatives (; ; ) is one of the two chambers in the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Senate. It is considered to be the "lower house" of the Federal Parliament. Members and elections Article 62 o ...

in 1978. In 1985, she became State Secretary of Environmental Affairs, and negotiated an Equal Opportunities portfolio. While Smet's competencies cover all aspects of social emancipation, she focused on violence against women, women's economic position and their participation in decision-making. When Smet became Minister of Labour and Employment in 1991, she kept the Equal Opportunities portfolio.

Member of the European Parliament

When she was offered first place in the CD&V list for the European elections in 1999 instead of

Wilfried Martens Wilfried Achiel Emma Martens (; 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 Democratic and Flemish, Christian People ...

, Martens, at the instigation of then-wife Ilse Schouteden, refused to run at all. Miet Smet was a

Member of the European Parliament A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been Election, elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and S ...

from 1999 to 2004. She became a Minister of State in 2002, and has been a member of the

Flemish Parliament The Flemish Parliament (Dutch language, Dutch: , formerly called Flemish Council or ''Vlaamse Raad'') constitutes the legislature, legislative power in Flanders for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic reg ...

from 2004 to 2009, and a Belgian senator between 2007 and 2010. In 2009, Smet was elected president of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (

AWEPA The Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) is an international parliamentary association that is strictly non-partisan, founded by European parliamentarians in 1984. In cooperation with African parliaments, AWEPA works to s ...

), taking over from former president Dr.

Jan Nico Scholten Jan Nico Scholten (born 4 June 1932 in Dalen) is a Dutch former politician. Scholten studied law and political science at VU University Amsterdam. After being burgemeester, mayor of the municipalities Andel (Netherlands), Andel, Giessen (Nether ...

Personal life and death

On 27 September 2008, Miet married fellow CD&V politician and former

Belgian Prime Minister The prime minister of Belgium (; ; ) or the premier of Belgium is the head of the federal government of Belgium, and the most powerful person in Belgian politics. The first head of government in Belgian history was Henri van der Noot in 179 ...

. After the death of Martens' first wife, Lieve Verschroeven, the marriage was confirmed in the Catholic Church on 27 April 2013. Miet died on 19 December 2024, at the age of 81.

Other activities

Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, also known as the Martens Centre and previously as the ''Centre for European Studies'', is a think tank and European political foundation affiliated to the European People's Party (EPP). The Mart ...

, Member of the Academic Council

Honours

* 2002 : Minister of state by Royal Decree. * 2004 : Grand Officer in the

Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to: * Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918 * Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium * Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...

. * 2002 : Dame Grand Cross in the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (, or , BVO) is the highest state decoration, federal decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be awarded for any field of endeavor. It was created by the first List of president ...

References

External links

Archives of Miet Smet
i
ODIS - Online Database for Intermediary Structures
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smet, Miet 1943 births 2024 deaths 20th-century women MEPs for Belgium 21st-century women MEPs for Belgium Belgian Roman Catholics Christian Democratic and Flemish MEPs Christian Democratic and Flemish politicians Flemish politicians Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Members of the 44th Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) Members of the 45th Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) Members of the 46th Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) Members of the 47th Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) Members of the 48th Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) Members of the Flemish Parliament MEPs for Belgium 1999–2004 Ministers of state of Belgium People from Sint-Niklaas Spouses of prime ministers of Belgium Women government ministers of Belgium Women members of the Chamber of Representatives (Belgium)