| Louis Tobback |
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Louis Tobback (born May 3 1938 ) is a Belgian Politician . He is currently the mayor of Louvain (Leuven). Tobback is a Flemish Socialist and member of the political party SP.a (formerly known as SP). He started his political career in ). In 1971 he was elected a member of the city council of Louvain, and became ''eerste Schepen '' (first Alderman ). In 1974 , he became the leader of the socialist fraction in the Belgian Chamber Of Representatives and became a controversial but respected politician. Tobback is known for his oneliners in which he clearly states his opinion. From 1988 until 1994 he was Belgian Interior Minister in two coalition formed by Christian democrats and socialists, who faced the tough task to make Belgium satisfy the Maastricht Norms . It was known that he liked cooperating with Jean-Luc Dehaene , who was Prime Minister from 1992 until 1999 . In 1994 he became president of the Flemish Socialist Party (SP, now SP.a ). In that time the party had a hard time due to the Agusta Scandal in which several Flemish and Walloon socialists were accused of corruption. Despite this, the party did not lose too much votes in the federal and regional elections in 1995 . As president of the SP, he also started a campaign of ideological and organisatorical innovation within the party. In 1995, Tobback also became the mayor of Louvain, and he was granted the title of Minister Of State as a recognition of his political prestations. In April 1998 , he again became Interior Minister, after Johan Vande Lanotte (also SP.a) resigned because of the escape of Marc Dutroux during his transport from jail to the court hall. In September 1998 he resigned himself after a Nigerian immigration candidate died during her forced repatriation. Up until now (April 2006) Tobback is the mayor of Louvain, and he is confident to be reelected in the local elections later this year. |
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