Edouard S. L. L. J. Baldewijns (born 22 April 1945) is a Belgian politician,member of the Chamber of Representatives and Flemish Government minister. A member of the Belgian Socialist Party and its successor the Flemish Socialist Party,he represented Hasselt from April 1977 to May 1995 and Hasselt-Tongeren-Maaseik from June 1999 to December 1999. He was the Flemish Minister of Public Works,Transport and Spatial Planning from June 1995 to September 1998 and Minister of Education and Civil Service Affairs from September 1998 to July 1999. He was also a member of the Flemish Parliament and its predecessors,the Flemish Council and the Cultural Council for the Dutch Cultural Community,from May 1977 to July 1995.
Baldewijns was a member of the municipal council in Borlo from 1977 to 1976 and its successor Gingelom from 1977 to 2004.[2][3] He was mayor of Gingelom from 1989 to 2004.[2][3] He was also a member of the provincial council in Limburg from March 1974 to April 1977.[2][3]
Baldewijns was a member of the Dutch Cultural Community and its successors,the Flemish Council and the Flemish Parliament,from May 1977 to July 1995.[4] With his background,Baldewijns became the Flemish socialists education expert.[2] He was one of the key figures behind the establishment of the Autonomous Council for Community Education (Autonome Raad van het Gemeenschapsonderwijs,ARGO).[2] He was a member of the Flemish Council's education committee for many years.[2][4] He was Chairman of the Flemish Council (Voorzitter Vlaamse Raad) from January 1994 to June 1995.[2][4]
Baldewijns represented Hasselt in the Chamber of Representatives from April 1977 to May 1995 and Hasselt-Tongeren-Maaseik from June 1999 to December 1999.[1] He was an alternate member of the Benelux Interparliamentary Consultative Council from November 1999 to March 2000.[4] In December 1999 he was appointed Deputy Secretary-General for Benelux.[1][6]
Baldewijns was chairman of Council for Community Education[nl] (RAGO) from 2008 to 2018.[7][8] He is a Grand Officer in the Order of Leopold and has a Civil Medal 1st class.[1] The Eddy Baldewijns Centre for Reading,Information and Multimedia (Centrum voor Lectuur,Informatie en Multimedia Eddy Baldewijns) in Gingelom is named after Baldewijns.[7]
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