Jacques Van Gompel
Jacques Van Gompel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 June 1947 Gilly, Belgium |
| Died | 21 August 2026 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | politician |
Jacques Van Gompel (12 June 1947 – 21 August 2026) was a Belgian politician for the Socialist Party (PS).
Political career
[edit]- 1970–1976 Councilman in Gilly, (merged with Charleroi in 1976)
- 1979–1983 Councilman in Charleroi
- 1983–1988 Alderman (Youth & Public Works) in Charleroi
- 1989–1995 First Alderman in Charleroi
- 1995–2000 Acting mayor of Charleroi
- 1995–2006 Mayor of Charleroi
In 1978 Van Gompel was elected as a representative for the Charleroi area in the Belgian Parliament. He resigned in 1983, in order to devote all his time to the administration of Charleroi.
Scandal
[edit]On 24 May 2006, Van Gompel offered his resignation as mayor after the mayor's office was accused of fraud, forgery, and corruption related to public solicitations.[1] The PS, however, put its trust in Van Gompel, and he would stay on.[2]
On 20 October 2006, Van Gompel was arrested himself, and charged with fraud and forgery. He resigned from his mayor position from jail, on 23 October 2006.[3]
In October 2011 he was condemned to 18 months imprisonment (provisionally). However, in March 2013 the Court of Appeal granted him a complete acquittal.[4] However, his political career was over, after he had not been a candidate for the communal elections of October 2012.
Death
[edit]Van Gompel died on 21 August 2026, at the age of 79.[5]
Literature
[edit]- Olivier COLLOT, Jacques Van Gompel. Un homme, une vie, une ville, Brussels, ed. Pire, 2006.
- Jacques Van Gompel, in: Encyclopédie du Mouvement wallon, Parlementaires et ministres de la Wallonie (1974–2009), T. IV, Namen, Institut Destrée, 2010
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Opgestapt in sfeer van schandalen". Het Financieele Dagblad. 26 May 2006.
- ↑ "PS-top in Charleroi blijft op post". De Standaard. 30 May 2006.
- ↑ "Discredited Charleroi mayor steps down". VRT Nieuws. 23 October 2006.
- ↑ Van Gompel acquitted
- ↑ Jacques Van Gompel, ancien bourgmestre de Charleroi, est décédé (in French)