Elio Di Rupo

Belgian politician

Elio Di Rupo (born 18 July 1951) is a Belgian politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belgium from 2011 to 2014. He was the leader of Parti socialiste. He was born in Morlanwelz, Wallonia to Italian parents. Di Rupo is openly gay.[1]

Elio Di Rupo
Prime Minister of Belgium
In office
6 December 2011 – 11 October 2014
MonarchAlbert II
Philippe
Preceded byYves Leterme
Succeeded byCharles Michel
Minister-President of Wallonia
In office
6 October 2005 – 20 July 2007
Preceded byAndré Antoine
Succeeded byRudy Demotte
In office
15 July 1999 – 4 April 2000
Preceded byRobert Collignon
Succeeded byJean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe
Leader of the Socialist Party
In office
16 September 1999 – 6 December 2011
Preceded byPhilippe Busquin
Succeeded byThierry Giet
Personal details
Born (1951-07-18) 18 July 1951 (age 72)
Morlanwelz, Belgium
Political partyParti socialiste
Alma materUniversity of Mons-Hainaut
University of Leeds
Signature

Di Rupo is the first openly gay man to lead a sovereign state. He was also the first openly gay man to win the position in his own right in an election.[2]

Di Rupo is also mayor of Mons and previously alderman of the same city.

He is an atheist and a Freemason.[3]

References change

  1. BBC profile
  2. Broverman, Neal (6 December 2011). "World's First Full-Time Gay Male Leader: Belgium's Elio Di Rupo". The Advocate.
  3. "Profile: Elio Di Rupo". Patrick Jackson. 5 December 2011. BBC