Leo C. Tindemans

Belgian Christian Democratic politician and one of the major driving forces in the integration of the European Union.

Tindemans was the grandson of a shepherd. He was in Belgium loved by his straightness and played an important role in the integration of the European Union. The Rapport Tindemans (29 December 1975) proposed the later implemented direct elections of the European Parliament and other integration proposals like the Monetary Union and the Common Foreign and Security Policy . He was an well eoducated man, according to opponents to smart to be a politician, but he succeeded to win elections with preference voters no-one had had in Belgium before.

He served as the 43rd Prime Minister of Belgium from 25 April 1974 until 20 October 1978. He resigned as premier on 14 October 1978 with the famous words: "Voor mij is de grondwet geen vodje papier. (...) Ik ga van deze tribune weg, ik ga naar de koning en ik bied het ontslag van de regering aan." ("For me, the Constitution is not a scrap of paper. (...) I'm am leaving this arena, I go to the king and I offer the resignation of the government.")

He was married with four children.

He died 26 december 2014 of pneumonia in his house in Edegem.