Bert Anciaux

Bert Jozef Herman Vic Anciaux (born in Merksem, 11 September 1959) is a Belgian politician, a founder and leading member of FlemishProgressives. Serving as Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport in the Flemish Government, he is also Minister for relations with the Brussels-Capital Region and the Brussels Parliament ( _nl. Minister voor Brusselse Aangelegenheden).

Anciaux was born into a political family. His father Vic Anciaux was chairman of the Volksunie (VU), a nationalist party, from 1979 until 1985. Bert first held office as a councilman in the City of Brussels in 1987, and in 1991 became a member of the provincial council of Flemish Brabant. He became chairman of the Volksunie in 1992, serving until 1998.

From 1995 to 1999 he sat in the Belgian Senate. Following the 1998 White Marches provoked by the publication of official reports on the Affaire Dutroux, Anciaux founded the think-tank, later political group, iD21, which aimed to confront the corruption and incompetence which the Dutroux affair had brought to light. In the 1999 Belgian general election, the combined Volksunie-iD21 list gained 8% of the vote, up from around 5% in 1995. Anciaux was elected to the European Parliament.

With the collapse of the Volksunie in 2001, split between left and right factions led by Anciaux and Geert Bourgeois which became Spirit and New-Flemish Alliance (NV-A) respectively. A number of iD21 members joined Agalev, the green party, rather than Spirit.

In 2002 Anciaux stepped down as Minister for Culture in the Flemish government. Following the 2003 Federal election, where Anciaux and Spirit ran in a cartel with the SP.A, he was appointed Federal transport minister. In July 2004 he resigned this post and returned to his present position as Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport in Flanders.

His wife Damienne Anciaux-Tant is also a Vl.Pro activist.

External links

* [http://www.bertanciaux.be/ Personal website]