page_title: Jean-Luc Dehaene
section_title: Dehaene II (1995–99)
hierarchical_section_title: Jean-Luc Dehaene / As Prime Minister / Dehaene II (1995–99)
caption_attribution_description: English: Jean-Luc Dehaene. Photo by Michel Vuijlsteke. Taken on October 19, 2005 at 12.52pm CEST with a Nikon D70. Camera: Nikon D70; Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60); Aperture: f/5.3; Focal Length: 220 mm
context_page_description: Jean Luc Joseph Marie "Jean-Luc" Dehaene was a Belgian politician who served as Prime Minister of Belgium from 1992 until 1999. During his political career, he was nicknamed "The Plumber" and "The Minesweeper" for his ability to negotiate political deadlocks. A member of the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams party and its antecedents, Dehaene gained his first ministerial appointment in 1981. Dehaene's first government included both Christian and Social Democrats and presided over the creation of a new constitution, effectively transforming Belgium into a federal state. His second government coincided with a number of crises in Belgium including the Dutroux scandal. The Dioxin Affair, occurring shortly before the 1999 election, led to a swing against the major parties and Dehaene's government fell. Following his final term as Prime Minister he was active in both Belgian and European politics. He was also on UEFA's financial fair play regulatory body and managed Dexia Bank during the financial crisis. He was the last prime minister of King Baudouin's reign.
context_section_description: Dehaene's second government was also composed of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. Despite the fact that the government was marked by a number of political crises and scandals, most notably the Dutroux affair, it managed to serve the entire legislature. During this period, for his work toward a unified Europe, Dehaene received the Vision for Europe Award in 1996. Dehaene led Belgium into the Euro, and in preparation for joining the Eurozone, the Dehaene government was forced to make some sharp and unpopular economic reforms. Some weeks before the 1999 elections the dioxin affair erupted, and both governing parties lost much of their support. He was replaced by a new government, led by Flemish liberal Guy Verhofstadt.
caption: Jean-Luc Dehaene giving a speech in 2005
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