Gaby Colebunders | |
|---|---|
 Colebunders in December 2022 | |
| Member of the Flemish Parliament | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2024 | |
| Constituency | Limburg |
| Member of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| In office 20 June 2019 –27 May 2024 | |
| Constituency | Liège |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 December 1972 Genk,Belgium |
| Political party | Workers' Party of Belgium |
Gaby Colebunders (born 26 December 1972) is a Belgian trade unionist,politician and member of the Flemish Parliament. [1] A member of the Workers' Party of Belgium,he has represented Limburg since July 2024. He had previously been a member of the Chamber of Representatives from June 2019 to May 2024. [2]
Colebunders was born on 26 December 1972 in Genk. [1] He studied social work at the Centre for Adult Education (CVO) in Brussels. [1] Colebunders,whose mentor was Jef Ulburghs,has been taking part in protests since he was twelve. [3] He became a trade union representative whilst working for a cardboard company. [3] He then worked at the Ford Genk factory for 25 years where he was a trade union representative for the General Labour Federation of Belgium (ABVV). [3] [4] He was at the forefront of trade union opposition to the closure of the factory announced in 2014. [3] A hardliner,he fell out with the ABVV leadership and joined the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV). [4] He spent a night in police custody after taking part in a union demonstration at Ford Cologne in November 2012. [4] [5] He has also worked for a stone carpet company. [4]
Colebunders contested the 2014 regional election as the Workers' Party of Belgium (PVDA)'s first placed candidate in Limburg but the party failed to win any seats in the constituency. [6] He was elected to the municipal council in Genk at the 2018 local election. [7] He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2019 federal election. [8] [9] He was elected to the Flemish Parliament at the 2024 regional election. [10] [11]
Colebunders is married and has three children and a grandchild. [12] His daughter Giada died unexpectedly in June 2022 at the age of 21. [13]
| Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 regional [6] | Limburg | Workers' Party of Belgium | 4,495 | Not elected | |
| 2018 local [7] | Genk | Workers' Party of Belgium | 682 | Elected | |
| 2019 federal [8] | Liège | Workers' Party of Belgium | 3,524 | Elected | |
| 2024 regional [10] | Limburg | Workers' Party of Belgium | 13,116 | Elected | |