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Jan Peter Peumans (born 6 January 1951 in Maastricht) is a Belgian politician from the Flemish province of Limburg. Being part of the Flemish Movement, he was at a young age already member of the Volksunie. He seated for that party in the Limburgish provincial council and is since 2004, a Flemish Parliament member for the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). In July 2004, he opposed, as Mayor of Riemst, the lengthening of the runway at Liège Airport.[1] From 2007 until 2009, he was N-VA fraction leader in the Flemish Parliament. After the elections of 7 June 2009 (which was successful for his party; and with more than 27.000 Limburgish preference votes for him), he became President of the Flemish Parliament, succeeding Marleen Vanderpoorten.
Jan Peumans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Speaker of the Flemish Parliament | |
| In office 13 July 2009 – 26 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Marleen Vanderpoorten |
| Succeeded by | Kris Van Dijck |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 January 1951 Maastricht, Netherlands |
| Political party | New Flemish Alliance |
In the Flemish Parliament, he worked e.g. on the case of the Antwerp Oosterweel connection. Peumans was elected most hard-working member of the Parliament in the period 2004–2009, by the newspaper De Standaard.[2]
On 27 January 2010, Peumans caused controversy after he was absent during a reception at the royal palace. As convinced republican he refuses to go to receptions at the king's palace,[3] although he talked to him once on the occasion of the day of the Flemish Community.[4]
On 12 September 2010, he was in Visé (just across the language border in Wallonia, close to where he lives), where he claims to have been insulted and attacked by a local because "he had no business in Wallonia".[5] Peumans said afterwards he never expected he would be attacked due to his political points of view.[6][7] His statement is being disputed by the alleged attacker.[8]
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- 1983–1994: Schepen in Riemst
- 1985–1987: Councillor in Limburg
- 1991–2004: Councillor in Limburg
- 1995–2006: Mayor of Riemst
- 2004–2019: Member of the Flemish Parliament
- 2007–2012: Schepen in Riemst
- 2007–2009: Parliamentary group leader for the New Flemish Alliance in the Flemish Parliament
- 2008–2009: Vice President New Flemish Alliance
- 2009–2019: President of the Flemish Parliament
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