Wilfried Martens, Nine-Time Prime Minister of Belgium Died At 77

Wilfried Martens, nine-times Prime Minister of Belgium and who led the European Union's Christian Democrat group, died on 9 October 2013 at Lokeren, in East Flanders. He was 77 years old.
 
Life History of Wilfried Martens

• Wilfried Martens was born on 19 April 1936 in Sleidinge (East Flanders).
• He was a Belgian politician.
• He served as the Prime Minister of Belgium from 3 April 1979 to 6 April 1981 and 17 December 1981 to 7 March 1992. He served as the PM in nine coalition governments during these tenures.
• He was the Chairman of Belgian Christian People's Party, which is now renamed as Christian Democratic and Flemish party from 1972–79.
• He was the co-founder of the European People's Party (EPP) in 1976 and remained its President since 1992. He was preceded by Jacques Santer.
• He also remained the President of the Christian Democrat International (CDI) from October 2000 to November 2001.
• He had the doctorate in law, a degree in notarial studies and the baccalaureate in Thomistic philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain.
• He also studied international political science at Harvard University.
• Thereafter, he practiced law at the Ghent Court of Appeal.
• He was honoured with Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon, Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Cross of the Order of Christ and Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry.