Jan Jambon

Jan Jambon
Minister of the Interior
Assumed office
11 October 2014
Prime Minister Charles Michel
Preceded by Melchior Wathelet
Personal details
Born (1960-04-26) 26 April 1960
Genk, Belgium
Political party New Flemish Alliance
Website Party website

Jan Jambon (born 26 April 1960 in Genk) is a Belgian politician affiliated to the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). He replaced Kris Peeters as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 2007. N-VA was at that time partners with the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams party.[1] In June 2010 and May 2014 he was re-elected on an N-VA list.[2]

He became mayor of Brasschaat in 2013 after his party won the local elections in 2012.[3]In November 2014, he was replaced as acting mayor by Koen Verberck (also N-VA), after joining the new Federal Government. [4]

In October 2014 he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Security, charged with the direction of public buildings, in the Michel Government. [5]

Controversies

Birthday of Sint-Maartensfonds

Jan Jambon has been criticized for having given a speech in 2001 during the 50th birthday of Sint-Maartensfonds, an association of former Flemish soldiers who were fighting alongside Nazi Germany troops on the Eastern front during World War II. In October 2014, replying to these remarks, Jambon declared the following as part of an interview.

“ The collaboration was a mistake. The Flemish movement was isolated for several years. But it's easier said than done. The people who collaborated with the Germans had their reasons. Me, I was not alive during that time.[6] ”

This statement was criticized by several Belgian politicians,[7] as well as the Social-Democrat Group Leader in the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella.[8]

Death threats

Jambon told a Flemish television chain in October 2014 that he had received death threats. He stated that one of those threats was written by someone claiming to be an extremist Muslim. Theo Francken also reported receiving death threats.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "De Kamerleden". De Kamer BE (in Dutch). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Torfs, Michael (25 October 2013). "Flemish nationalist Jan Jambon under fire". Flanders News BE. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Nieuwe burgemeester Jan Jambon legt eed af". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 18 December 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Vervanger van Jambon legt eed af als waarnemend burgemeester Brasschaat". Gazet Van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 10 November 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Vice-eersteminister en minister van Veiligheid en Binnenlandse Zaken, belast met de Regie der Gebouwen" (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Jan Jambon: 'Les gens qui ont collaboré avec les Allemands avaient leurs raisons'" (in French). La Libre Belgique. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Collaboration avec les nazis : le nouveau gouvernement belge tangue déjà, Le Parisien 13/10/2014.
  8. ↑ "European social-democrats 'very concerned'", vrt news 15/10/2014.
  9. ↑ "Jambon et Francken reçoivent des menaces de mort". La Libre.be. 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
Political offices
Preceded by
Melchior Wathelet		 Minister of the Interior
2014–present 		Incumbent


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