Gaston Eyskens

Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens (1 April 1905 – 3 January 1988) was a Christian democratic politician and prime minister of Belgium. He was also an economist and member of the Belgian Christian Social Party (CVP-PSC).

Gaston Eyskens
Eyskens photographed in 1969
Prime Minister of Belgium
In office
17 June 1968  26 January 1973
MonarchBaudouin
Preceded byPaul Vanden Boeynants
Succeeded byEdmond Leburton
In office
26 June 1958  25 April 1961
MonarchBaudouin
Preceded byAchille Van Acker
Succeeded byThéo Lefèvre
In office
11 August 1949  8 June 1950
MonarchLeopold III
RegentPrince Charles
Preceded byPaul-Henri Spaak
Succeeded byJean Duvieusart
Personal details
Born(1905-04-01)1 April 1905
Lier, Belgium
Died3 January 1988(1988-01-03) (aged 82)
Leuven, Belgium
Political partyChristian Social Party
SpouseGilberte Depetter
Alma materCatholic University of Leuven
Columbia University

He served three terms as the prime minister of Belgium, holding the position from 1949 to 1950, 1958 to 1961 and 1968 to 1973. During his periods in office, Eyskens was confronted with major ideological and linguistic conflicts within Belgium including the Royal Question in 1950, the School War in 1958, the independence of the Belgian Congo in 1960 and the split of the University of Leuven in 1970. He oversaw the first steps towards the federalization of Belgium (constitutional reform of 1970).

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