Michel Daerden

Michel Daerden (16 November 1949 – 5 August 2012) was a francophone Belgian politician, a member of the Parti Socialiste, and a Finance auditor.

Michel Daerden
Michel Daerden in 2005
Federal Minister for Pensions and Big Cities
In office 25 November 2009 – 6 December 2011
Mayor of Ans
In office 1993 – 2011
Vice-President in charge of Budget, Finance, and Equipment
In office 2004 – 2009
Constituency	Walloon Government
Vice-President in charge of Public Service and Sports
In office 2007 – 2009
Constituency	Government of the French Community
Vice-President in charge of Budget and Finance
In office July 2004 – 2009
Constituency	Government of the French Community
Deputy
Constituency	Liège
Minister of Budget
In office June 2003 – June 2004
Constituency	Government of the French Community
Vice-President in charge of Finance, Budget, Housing, Infrastructure, and Public Works
In office April 2000 – June 2004
Constituency	Walloon Government
Personal details
Born	16 November 1949 Baudour, Belgium
Died	5 August 2012 (aged 62) Fréjus, France
Nationality	Belgium
Political party	Parti Socialiste
Children	Frédéric Daerden (son) Aurore Daerden (daughter) Elena Daerden (daughter)
Occupation	politician

Daerden was born in Baudour, Belgium. With a reputation as a 'bon vivant', his undenied penchant for a drink (especially Pomerol)[1] led him to be nicknamed "the Gainsbourg of Belgian Politics" both by himself in a famous TV interview[2] and by Belgium's much respected weekly news magazine Le Vif/L'Express.[3]

Biography

Political career

Michel Daerden was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 1987. In 1991 he was elected to the Belgian Senate.

Daerden served in the Federal government as Federal Minister for Science Policy and Infrastructures (1994-1995) and Federal Minister of Transport (1995-1999). After the elections of 1999 Daerden was elected to the Walloon Parliament and became Minister for Employment, Training and Housing in the Walloon Government. Daerden then became Vice-President of the Walloon Government in April 2000 and was in charge of Finance, Budget, Housing, Infrastructure and Public Works (April 2000 to June 2004), he concurrently served as minister of the budget for the French Community (June 2003 to June 2004). After the Regional elections of June 2004 he became Vice-President of the Walloon Government in charge of Budget, Finance and Equipment(2004-2009) and co-currently Vice-President of the Government of the French Community in charge of Budget and Finance (2004-2009). In 2009 Daerden transferred to the federal government where he served as Minister for Pensions and Large Cities (2009-2011).

Daerden also served as mayor of Ans, on the outskirts of Liège from 1993 to 2011. In March 2011 a majority of the town council, including members of his own party, voted to depose Daerden as mayor. The Liège division of the PS later supported this resolution and forced Daerden to relinquish his office.

Personal life

Michel Daerden had two daughters: Aurore Daerden is a DJ and stylist; Elena Daerden is a student. His son, Frédéric Daerden, is the mayor of Herstal and an MEP.

On 26 July 2012, while on holiday in France, Daerden suffered a heart attack which put him in a coma. He died, aged 62, on 5 August in Fréjus.

Miscellaneous

Expressing a certain sense of spectacle in his political activities, Daerden said he wanted to be a singer.[4]

On 6 December 2006, Daerden laid the first stone of the renovated Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Star on Youtube

Michel Daerden was the subject of special attention after the Belgian municipal elections of 2006. Excerpts of his post-election interview on RTBF and on local television RTC-TV Liège, where he appears intoxicated, were circulated widely on YouTube. A week later, Daerden was asked on the TV show Mise au Point whether he had had too much to drink at that time. His humorous response was "Pas plus que d'habitude" ("No more than usual").[1][5]

Cyborgjeff created a dance-video called Daerden machine, putting together several clips, including Daerden's quote about himself tout le monde aime papa ("everyone loves 'Daddy'", referring to himself).[6]

Diplomas

• Master's degree in trade and finance, Hautes Études Commerciales de Liège, 1971, with distinction.
• Aggregation of secondary education for commercial sciences, HEC Management School – University of Liege, 1973, with great distinction.
• Science Degree in Applied Economics (orientation: business administration, option business administration), University of Mons, 1975.
• Master's degree as Auditor, University of Mons-Hainaut, 1977, with great distinction.

References

1. Les 12 travaux de Michel Daerden (in French), RTBF.be, 8 December 2009, archived from the original on 27 September 2011, Défi 5 : 'Millésimes' : Ce n'est plus un secret pour personne, Michel Daerden aime le bon vin... Mais sera-t-il pour autant capable de reconnaître la provenance des 5 grands crus que lui fera goûter notre spécialiste Carlo de Pascale?
2. Michel Daerden (18 October 2006). Michel Daerden s'explique sur le plateau de Mise Au Point ! (in French). YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
3. "L'Homme anguille". Le Vif/L'Express (in French). Belgium. 22 (52): 20–21. 24 December 2004.
4. "Michel Daerden rêvait d'être chanteur". Le Soir (in French). 15 October 2006. Archived from the original on 29 November 2006.
5. Peyret, Emmanuèle (16 October 2006). "Réélu et ivre de joie" [Reelected and drunk with joy]. Libération (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2010. Dimanche, à une autre émission, on lui a demandé si il était saoul: «Pas plus que d'habitude» a rétorqué le ministre, dans une « forme olympique» , selon La Libre Belgique de lundi. ("On Sunday, in another show, he was asked if he was drunk: 'No more than usual,' replied the minister, in an 'Olympic shape,' according to La Libre Belgique on Monday.")
6. cyborgjeff (Producer), Michel Daerden (19 November 2007). cyborgjeff feat. DJ Daerden - La Daerden Machine HD (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2010.