Melchior Wathelet | |
---|---|
Minister-President of Wallonia | |
In office 11 December 1985 – 3 February 1988 | |
Preceded by | Jean-Maurice Dehousse |
Succeeded by | Guy Coëme |
Personal details | |
Born | Petit-Rechain | 6 March 1949
Political party | Humanist Democratic Centre |
Alma mater |
University of Liège Harvard University |
Melchior H. M. J. F. C. Wathelet (born 6 March 1949) is a Belgian politician and member of the Humanist Democratic Centre who served as 4th Minister-President of Wallonia. He has degrees in law and in economics ( University of Liège) and is a Master of Laws ( Harvard University). He is also a professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and the Université de Liège. From 1995 to 2003 he was a Judge at the European Court of Justice. [1] Following that, Wathelet served as Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration . [2] In 2012-2018, Wathelet served as Advocate-General at the Court of Justice. [1]
As Justice Minister he had, according to David Canter, "encouraged the early release of many sex offenders" which included Marc Dutroux, a convicted child molester and subsequent serial killer. [4] This particular release resulted in the European Parliament calling for his resignation as an ECJ judge in 1997. [5] The European Parliament does not have the right to appoint ECJ judges, and it was the first time that it attempted to influence their selection. [6]
Melchior Wathelet | |
---|---|
Minister-President of Wallonia | |
In office 11 December 1985 – 3 February 1988 | |
Preceded by | Jean-Maurice Dehousse |
Succeeded by | Guy Coëme |
Personal details | |
Born | Petit-Rechain | 6 March 1949
Political party | Humanist Democratic Centre |
Alma mater |
University of Liège Harvard University |
Melchior H. M. J. F. C. Wathelet (born 6 March 1949) is a Belgian politician and member of the Humanist Democratic Centre who served as 4th Minister-President of Wallonia. He has degrees in law and in economics ( University of Liège) and is a Master of Laws ( Harvard University). He is also a professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and the Université de Liège. From 1995 to 2003 he was a Judge at the European Court of Justice. [1] Following that, Wathelet served as Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration . [2] In 2012-2018, Wathelet served as Advocate-General at the Court of Justice. [1]
As Justice Minister he had, according to David Canter, "encouraged the early release of many sex offenders" which included Marc Dutroux, a convicted child molester and subsequent serial killer. [4] This particular release resulted in the European Parliament calling for his resignation as an ECJ judge in 1997. [5] The European Parliament does not have the right to appoint ECJ judges, and it was the first time that it attempted to influence their selection. [6]