Dirk Van Mechelen
Dirk Van Mechelen was born on August 27th 1957 in Ekeren (Belgium). He is a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Flemish Liberal Party (Open VLD). He is also mayor of Kapellen.
Political Career
Dirk Van Mechelen started his political career in 1982 as councillor in Kapellen. In 1987, he got elected for the first time as member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and of the Flemish Council (predecessor of Flemish Parliament), and he became alderman in Kapellen. After the regional elections in 1999, Dirk Van Mechelen became Minister of Economy, Public Planning, and Media. His specialisation changes twice during this legislative period: first Finance and Budget, Innovation, Media and Public Planning; and second, Finance and Budget, Public Planning, Science and Technologic Innovation. Since the local elections in 2000, he is mayor of Kapellen. In 2004, with the start of the Flemish Government Leterme, he became Minister of Finance and Budget, and Public Planning. He replaced his party fellow Fientje Moerman in 2007 as Vice-Minister President of Flanders. Since May 25th 2014, he has been back in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Flemish liberals (Open VLD).
Education
He graduated in modern history from the KU Leuven.
