Quick Facts
Biography
Rudy W.G. Demotte (born 3 June 1963 in Ronse) is a Belgian socialist politician and present Minister-President of the French Community
He was previously also Minister-President of Wallonia (2007-2014), replacing Elio Di Rupo, one month after a historical defeat of the socialists in the federal election. Of mixed Flemish and Walloon descent, Demotte is one of the few Walloon politicians to be perfectly bilingual in French and Dutch.
From 1988-90 he served on the cabinet of the Minister of Social Affairs. He was first elected to the Belgian House of Representatives in 1995 and was reflected in 1999 and 2003. In 1999, he became the federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Scientific Research. In 2002, he became the Minister for Budget, Culture and Sport of the French Community of Belgium. From July 2003 to 2007, he became Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health in the federal government. Having served as a council member from 1994 on, he was mayor of Flobecq (2000-2012). Having moved, since 2013 Demotte is mayor of Tournai.
Orders
- Belgium,2014: Grand officier Order of Leopold
- Japan, 2016: Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class.