Steve Stevaert (; born Robert Stevaert ; 12 April 1954 – 2 April 2015) was a Belgian politician of the

Flemish Socialist Party Vooruit (Dutch for Forward, ) is a Flemish social democratic political party in Belgium. The party was known as the Flemish Socialist Party (1978–2001: ''Socialistische Partij'', SP; 2001–2021: ''Socialistische Partij Anders'', SP.A) until 2 ...

: the SP.A.

Biography

Stevaert was born on 12 April 1954 in Rijkhoven in Belgium. After his studies at the "Hoger Rijksinstituut voor Toerisme, Hotelwezen en Voedingsbedrijven", Stevaert started as a bar owner in 1972. Stevaert became politically active in 1982 under the wings of his mentor Willy Claes. Stevaert was elected to the Provincial Council of Limburg from 1985 to 1995. He became mayor and member of the city council of

Hasselt Hasselt (, , ; la, Hasseletum, Hasselatum) is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital and largest city of the province of Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is known for its former branding as "the city of taste", as well as ...

in 1995. There he became famous for his policy of

free Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, having the ability to do something, without having to obey anyone/anything * Freethought, a position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism * Emancipate, to procur ...

public transport Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typic ...

in 1997, which gave him his nickname "Steve Stunt". Stevaert was also elected to the

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

in 1995 and was re-elected in 1999 and 2004. Stevaert served as Flemish minister of Public Works, Transport and Spatial planning from 1998 to 1999 and as Flemish minister of Mobility, Transport and Public Works from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned having become chairman of his party, succeeding Patrick Janssens. He was chairman from 2003 until he resigned on 25 May 2005, having been appointed governor of the province Limburg, in which function he succeeded governor

Hilde Houben-Bertrand Hilde Houben-Bertrand (born Genk, 24 May 1940) is a Belgian politician of the Christian Democratic and Flemish Party (CD&V). She is best known for being a former governor of the Belgian province Limburg Limburg or Limbourg may refer to: Regions ...

. He became the 15th governor, and also the first 'socialist' governor of this province. Caroline Gennez succeeded him as temporary chairman, until

Johan Vande Lanotte Johan Cyrille Corneel Vande Lanotte (born 6 July 1955) is a Belgian politician. He is a member of the SP.A, and became its party president on 15 October 2005. He handed down his leadership positions after the SP.A lost in the 2007 general elec ...

was officially elected as the new chairman in October 2005. On 9 June 2009, the day of the Flemish regional elections, Stevaert announced he would step down as governor. He was succeeded by his fellow socialist

Herman Reynders Herman Reynders (born Hasselt, 1 February 1958) is a Belgian former basketball player and politician of the Vooruit party. Basketball Herman Reynders played in the Basketball League Belgium during a period of eight years, the highest Belgian bas ...

. Stevaert was given the honorary title of

Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In ...

on 26 January 2004. In early April 2015 allegations of

rape Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ...

were made public in the Belgian media. Subsequently, on 2 April 2015, ten days before his 61st birthday, the public prosecutor of Hasselt confirmed that Stevaert had gone missing. His body was found that same day around 18h by divers in the Albert Canal near Hasselt.

References

External links

Short biography of Stevaert at the website of the Flemish Parliament
1954 births 2015 suicides Belgian Ministers of State Governors of Limburg (Belgium) Socialistische Partij Anders politicians People from Hasselt Mayors of places in Belgium Members of the Flemish Parliament Drinking establishment owners Belgian politicians who committed suicide Suicides by drowning Suicides in Belgium 2015 deaths {{Flanders-politician-stub