Tindemans, Leo (Leonard Clemence Tindemans), 1922–2014, Belgian stateman. He studied economics at the universities of Antwerp and Ghent, and in 1958 became head of the Flemish Christian Democrats. First elected to parliament in 1961, he also was mayor (1965–73) of Edegem. Tindemans held several ministerial posts, including that of deputy prime minister and budget minister (1973–74), before he became prime minister (1974–78); he was instrumental in the transformation of Belgium into a federal state. Tindemans also worked for European economic and political integration, and co-founded (1976) and became the first president of the European People's party. After serving (1979–81) in the first directly elected European Parliament (EP), he resumed his Belgian political career and was foreign minister (1981–89). He later again served (1989–99) in the EP. He subsequently taught international relations and European policy at the Catholic Univ. of Leuven.
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