Freddy Thielemans

Freddy Thielemans (11 September 1944 – 29 January 2022) was a Belgian socialist politician who was the mayor of the City of Brussels from 2001 to 2013, and previously also for a period in 1994.

Freddy Thielemans
Thielemans in 2006
Thielemans in 2006
Born(1944-09-11)11 September 1944
Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
Died29 January 2022(2022-01-29) (aged 77)
NationalityBelgian
Occupation(s)Politician, teacher
Known forMayor of Brussels
(1994–1995, 2001–2013)
SpouseCécile Charles

Freddy Thielemans learnt to play rugby with Brussels Barbarians RFC during the late 1970s and early 1980s as a prop, took part in the Vancouver Tour in 1982 and also represented Belgium at Rugby Union.

Life and career

Thielemans graduated in Commercial Sciences before working as a teacher in some high schools in Brussels. His political career started in 1983 when he worked on the cabinet of Hervé Brouhon, then the mayor of Brussels. He became an alderman for the Parti Socialiste in 1988, and mayor of Brussels between 1994 and 1995. He served in the Brussels Parliament from 1995 until 1999, when he became a member of the European Parliament. After the municipal elections of 2000, he again became the mayor of Brussels from early 2001 on.[1] He resigned in 2013 due to his age, and was succeeded by Yvan Mayeur. Thielemans also had a seat on the board of the Atomium.

He was married to Cécile Charles and had two children, Myra and Camille. In 2016, he suffered a serious fall that led to a brain haemorrhage and a time in a coma. From then on, his health was poorer.

Thielemans died on 29 January 2022, at the age of 77.[2][3]

Honours
Thielemans in 2009

References
  1. Biography Archived 29 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine in an article from Het Nieuwsblad
  2. "Brusselse oud-burgemeester Freddy Thielemans (PS) is overleden: "Vandaag weent de hoofdstad"". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  3. "Voormalig burgemeester Brussel Freddy Thielemans overleden". De Standaard (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  4. "Freddy Thielemans wordt officier in de Franse Légion d'Honneur". De Standaard.
  5. "Koninklijk Besluit nationale orden bij koninklijke besluiten van 26 mei 2014 zijn de hierna vermelde leden van het europees parlement bevorderd of benoemd: Leopoldsorde grootofficier mevr. Durant Isabelle, ondervoorzitster van het Europees Parlement de heer Belet Ivo". etaamb.be.


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