Press Crisis In Europe

In 1972, he became President of the Liberal Flemish Students' Union in Ghent and, four years later, was elected as a City Councillor there.  Keen to follow his interest in national politics, Guy went on to take a number of high profile posts including Political Secretary to Willy De Clercq, National President of the Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV), an MP in the House of Representatives, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Budget, a Senator, and National President of the PVV and National President of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD).

In July 1999 he became Prime Minister of Belgium, heading three separate governments over the course of nearly ten years.

In June 2009 Guy Verhofstadt was elected to the European Parliament where he will pursue his interests in European politics after winning the unanimous support of the ALDE Group in their leadership contest.

Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest (1979); Visiting scholar, Columbia University, New York (1994); Lawyer at the Bucharest Bar (1979-present); Lecturer, National School of Political and Administrative Studies (1997-2003); Lector, Faculty of History, University of Bucharest.

Adviser to the Romanian President on constitutional and legislative affairs (December 2004-December 2005).

Member of the European Parliament (2007-present); Head of the PNL (National Liberal Party) delegation (2008-2009).

Head, EU election observation mission to Bolivia, 2009; Head, EP election observation delegation to Ecuador, 2008; Head, EP election observation delegation to Ecuador, 2009.

Member, Management Board, European Agency for Fundamental Rights (2007).

President, Soros Foundation (1998-2007); Executive President, Centre for Legal Resources; Member of numerous national and international human rights organisations.

Author of over 50 publications.