Johan Weyts Explained

Johan Weyts (9 June 1939 – 20 May 2021) was a Belgian Christian Democrat politician who sat in the Belgian Senate from 1987 to 1999.[1] [2]

Born in Mechelen, Weyts had a doctorate in law from Ghent University.[2] He was a member of Bruges city council from 1971 to 1995, when he was first elected to the senate for the Arrondissement of Bruges.[2] His parliamentary questions mostly related to finance, transport and fisheries.[2] He was also a member of the Vlaamse Raad from 1988, and sat in the Flemish Parliament from 1999 to 2004.[3]

In 1999 he risked expulsion from his party for supporting far-right positions of Vlaams Blok,[4] and in 2004 there were renewed calls for his expulsion when it emerged he was vice-chair of a committee to prevent "foreigners" from voting that had been set up by Vlaams Blok.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gewezen Brugse senator Johan Weyts overleden. Stefan. Vankerkhoven. 20 May 2021. KW.be.
  2. Web site: Johan Weyts - CVP . senate.be . nl.
  3. Web site: Johan Weyts, gewezen Vlaams volksvertegenwoordiger. vlaamsparlement.be .
  4. News: CVP smoort rel om Blok . 31 August 1999 . De Standaard.
  5. News: Jong-CD&V West-Vlaanderen vraagt ontslag Johan Weyts . 16 January 2004 . Het Nieuwsblad.
  6. Mark Deweerdt, "Overzicht van het Belgische politiek gebeuren in 2004", Res Publica: Political Yearbook of Belgium, 47:2-3 (2005), p. 233.