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Quick Facts
Biography
Jan Jambon (born 26 April 1960 in Genk) is a Belgian politician affiliated to the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). He replaced Kris Peeters as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 2007. N-VA was at that time partners with the Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams party. In June 2010 and May 2014 he was re-elected on an N-VA list.
He became mayor of Brasschaat in 2013 after his party won the local elections in 2012. In November 2014, he was replaced as acting mayor by Koen Verberck (also N-VA), after joining the new Federal Government.
In October 2014 he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Security, charged with the direction of public buildings, in the Michel Government.
Controversies
Birthday of Sint-Maartensfonds
Jan Jambon has been criticized for having given a speech in 2001 during the 50th birthday of Sint-Maartensfonds, an association of former Flemish soldiers who were fighting alongside Nazi Germany troops on the Eastern front during World War II. In October 2014, replying to these remarks, Jambon declared the following as part of an interview.
This statement was criticized by several Belgian politicians, as well as the Social-Democrat Group Leader in the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella.
Death threats
Jambon told a Flemish television chain in October 2014 that he had received death threats. He stated that one of those threats was written by someone claiming to be an extremist Muslim. Theo Francken also reported receiving death threats.