Dirk Van der Maelen
Dirk Van der Maelen was born on March 14th 1953 in Geraardsbergen (Belgium). He is a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the Flemish Socialist Party (SP.A).
Political Career
He started his political career in 1979, when he became local leader of SP (predecessor of SP.A) in Geraardsbergen. In 1989, he was elected the first time into the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, in which he is still active today. His parliamentary work focuses mainly on fiscal justice and defence. From 1999 to 2007, Dirk Van der Maelen was leader of the Flemish socialist group in the Chamber of Representatives. In the period 2007 to 2011, he was vice-chairman of SP.A. He was also active on the local level as a former councillor in Geraardsbergen. He is still active as a member of the Public Office of Social Welfare (OCMW) in Geraardsbergen. Van der Maelen is a former secretary and vice-chairman of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives.
Education
He graduated in law with a specialisation in international law and in European law.
