(1938-)
Belgian politician, secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 1994. With a proven reputation as a consensus-builder, he was the clear favorite for the post, although subsequent allegations about his involvement in illegal dealings while Belgian foreign minister with Agusta, the Italian aircraft manufacturer, initially threatened to undermine his new position.
Prior to this appointment he had been Belgium's foreign affairs minister and deputy prime minister. A Flemish-speaking socialist, he had risen to high political office via the trade union movement.