A small “extraordinary” decision
“We were able to do a lot during all these years“, Starts Herman de Croo. Even today, this hard work stops little.”he hasn’t taken a vacation since, phew … at least thirty years“, He launches with a touch of pride. Of all the things he has done, a spontaneous surfaced. A story he never told, it seems.”It was at the time of the merger of the municipalities“, The former minister begins.”I had proposed, on the municipal council, to keep the names of the old municipalities on the borders but, at the time, the majority refused. I groaned because I found it good to be able to keep the name of these municipalities, which would have had no administrative impact“. In 1974, he became Minister of National Education in the Government of Leo Tindemans, when the first merger of the communes is in the process of being finalized. Bingo!”I asked to be associated with this file on behalf of the Liberals, then asked that the municipalities were authorized which wanted to keep the old name of the municipalities on the plates delimiting the borders “. A victory which he is very proud of today. “”The existence today of the names of the municipalities or cities merged on the panels is a bit, I believe, the merit of Herman de Croo“He rejoices.
Small decisions, those affecting everyday life and most citizens participate in its greatest satisfaction. “”With hindsight, I should have boasted more“, Smiles the liberal. It can seem trivial, but”This is probably one of the most extraordinary things I have done, by chance of being present in negotiations“.
“I was killed”
“There is something else that we know less about me, this is the role I played in the development of Zaventem airport“He continues proudly.”It was I who introduced night flights. I remember, at the time, I was killed“. A hot file that still arouses stir today.”The bourgmestre of the time told me one day that I had contributed to the demographic boom in the town because all the young couples are awakened at five in the morning, because of the planes“. He also remembers having participated in the liberalization of heavens, a measure which, according to him, made it possible to democratize the trip by plane.”If millions of Belgians take the plane today at the price of a train ticket, it is greatly due to Herman de Croo.“A decision made, according to him, to boost the competitiveness and economic activity of the airport.”I have brought parcel and medication carriers to the airport“explains the former minister.”Thanks to what I did for Zaventem, my photo is hung in the largest aeronautical museum in the world, in Washington.“
The enormous investment of Brussels Airport is stirring: “Not the slightest penny to reduce the sound load and pollution”
“The longest strike in the history of the SNCB”
In 1980, Herman de Croo became Minister of PTT (Posts, Telegraphs and Telens) and transport. A portfolio which therefore includes the management of the SNCB. In its boxes, there was in particular the removal of more than 200 stations. “”They were small stations and, in compensation, we were increasingly increasing the parking spaces around other stations.“A decision that the government of the time, of which it was part, did not want to take, for fear of losing popularity.” To This era, however, the Minister of Transport was also the legal president of the SNCB. So the government has never decided to suppress these stations. I took it as president“, He sneer. He followed a movement of anger which still gives chills to many railway workers: the strike lasted 14 days.”They had installed a railway in front of my house here, even in the courtyard. The trade unionists camped in tents“. Almost unthinkable today.”Every morning, at half past five, I took out a bottle of alcohol and I was going to bring them a drink “, recalls Herman de Croo. A ministry in which he also worked for Brussels to be the TGV exchange station in northern Europe, recalls the former minister.
“We say no to this lack of respect”: towards a new strike on the rail during the month of August?
“50 years in parliament, it’s a life”
Often presented as a deputy “intrepid and criticism“, The one who has led no less than 41 campaigns remembers one of his first feats of arms in the House. In 1973, then a young parliamentarian, he was the author of an arrest which led to the fall of the government, of which his party was a member, the PVV (former name of the Open VLD). “It was a matter of embezzlement and corruption“recalls Herman de Croo.”The following week, Jos Van Eynde, then socialist group leader in the House, came to visit me “, explains the former deputy. “”He told me a sentence that I have never forgotten, in French: if one day you piss next to the pot, we will have you“. Even today is one of his most striking memories.”During my career, I made dozens of trips and I had an incredible number of bribes’ proposals“He recalls.”Jos Van Eynde’s sentence never left me“.
50 years ago, Herman de Croo entered Parliament (portrait)
The function that will have the most marked Herman de Croo is certainly that of president of the room. Standing from 1999 to 2007, “I changed a lot in the room“Explains the interested party. One between them is the introduction of the famous”question time”; A moment intended for current issues, posed by the deputies at the start of each plenary session. This invention signed Herman de Croo was inspired by the British model. TV in the House is also him. “”This is how the program Villa Politica (political program broadcast on the VRT since 2002, editor’s note) started“, Trakes our interlocutor.