Koen Geens

Koen Geens (born 22 January 1958 in Merksem) is a Belgian Flemish legal scholar and politician of the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) who served as the Minister of Justice and as Deputy Prime Minister in the governments of Prime Ministers Charles Michel and Sophie Wilmès.

Koen Geens
Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium
In office
2 July 2019  1 October 2020
Prime MinisterCharles Michel
Sophie Wilmès
Preceded byKris Peeters
Minister of Justice
In office
11 October 2014  1 October 2020
Prime MinisterCharles Michel
Sophie Wilmès
Preceded byAnnemie Turtelboom
Succeeded byVincent Van Quickenborne
Minister of Finance
In office
5 March 2013  11 October 2014
Prime MinisterElio Di Rupo
Preceded bySteven Vanackere
Succeeded byJohan Van Overtveldt
Personal details
Born (1958-01-22) 22 January 1958
Merksem, Belgium
Political partyChristian Democratic and Flemish
Alma materUniversity of Antwerp
Catholic University of Leuven
Harvard University

Early life and education

Geens studied at the University of Antwerp (UFSIA) and the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), where he received his law degree in 1980, and at Harvard University where he received an LL.M.

Career

Early career

Since 1986 Geens has become a professor at the KU Leuven. In that capacity, he was appointed by the Belgian government as the scientific coordinator for the codification of the Belgian laws on companies and financial accounts, which culminated in a new Belgian company code in 2001.[1] In 2009 Geens was a candidate for rector of the KU Leuven but lost out to Mark Waer.

Geens is a co-founder of Eubelius, an independent lawfirm in Belgium with offices in Antwerp, Brussels and Kortrijk.

Political career

From 2007 to 2009 Geens served as chief of staff to the Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters. When Steven Vanackere resigned in March 2013 as Minister of Finance, Geens was appointed as his successor.[2]

In October 2014 Geens became Minister of Justice in the Michel Government. In addition, he chaired the European People's Party’s Justice Ministers Meeting.[3]

During his time in office, Geens steered through the legislative process a 2015 law which invalidated passports and identity cards of people authorities believe plan to go and fight for militant Islamist organizations in the Middle East.[4] In the wake of the 2016 Brussels bombings, both Geens and fellow cabinet member Jan Jambon offered their resignation to Prime Minister Michel over lapses;[5] both were refused.[6][7]

As part of the government formation, Geens was appointed by King Philippe of Belgium to explore possibilities to form a coalition government in early 2020.

Other activities

International organizations

Corporate boards

Non-profit organizations

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Steven Vanackere
Minister of Finance
2013–2014
Succeeded by
Johan Van Overtveldt
Preceded by
Maggie De Block
Minister of Justice
2014–2020
Succeeded by
Vincent Van Quickenborne
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