Guy Verhofstadt

Born in 1953 in Dendermonde, he became president of the Liberaal Vlaams Studententverbond (Liberal Flemish Students' Association) (1972–1974), while studying law at the University of Ghent. He quickly became the secretary of Willy De Clercq, who was at that time the president of the Flemish liberal party (PVV). In 1982, at age 29, he became president of the party. In 1985, he was elected into the Chamber of Deputies, and became deputy prime minister and minister of budget under Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Because of his economic views and his young age, he became known as "Baby Thatcher".{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/734494b2-849e-11e6-a29c-6e7d9515ad15 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/734494b2-849e-11e6-a29c-6e7d9515ad15 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|date=27 September 2016|newspaper=Financial Times |location=London|title= Verhofstadt warns Britain about European Parliament's Brexit power: Assembly's chief negotiator says relationship must avoid 'love-hate' of past 40 years|author=Alex Barker|access-date=10 March 2017}}{{cite web|title=Guy Verhofstadt: Who is the diehard Europhile who has been appointed as EU's chief Brexit negotiator? From describing David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage as 'rats fleeing a sinking ship' to reportedly being banned from entering Russia, he has often found himself in the spotlight|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/who-is-guy-verhofstadt-brexit-negotiations-article-50-chief-negotiator-a7307346.html|author= Maya Oppenheim|date= 14 September 2016|newspaper=The Independent, London|access-date=10 March 2017}}

After being ousted from government he became leader of the opposition. After a failed attempt to form a government in November 1991, he changed the PVV into the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD). This new party attracted many politicians from other parties, notably from the Volksunie (VU) and the Christian People's Party (CVP).{{cite web|url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Binnenland/article/detail/111836/2007/12/21/Biografie-Guy-Verhofstadt.dhtml|publisher=Het Laatste Nieuws, Brussels|date=21 December 2007|title=Biografie Guy Verhofstadt| access-date=10 March 2017}}

However, despite the fact that many had high expectations, the party did not manage to outstrip the CVP. Verhofstadt resigned and disappeared from the political scene, only to return to the party's presidency in 1997, with a less radical image. He gradually moved away from neoliberalism (partly under the influence of his brother Dirk, a social liberal political philosopher), and became more of a centrist figure, a change which especially became clear during his first term as prime minister.

{{Main|Verhofstadt I Government}}

Partly because of a food scandal that broke out just before the 1999 elections,{{cite journal |pmid=11896663 |year=2002 |last1=Bernard |first1=Alfred |last2=Broeckaert |first2=Fabrice |last3=De Poorter |first3=Geert |last4=De Cock |first4=A |last5=Hermans |first5=Cédric |last6=Saegerman |first6=Claude |last7=Houins |first7=Gilbert |title=The Belgian PCB/Dioxin Incident: Analysis of the Food Chain Contamination and Health Risk Evaluation |volume=88 |issue=1 |pages=1–18 |doi=10.1006/enrs.2001.4274 |journal=Environmental Research|bibcode=2002ER.....88....1B }} the VLD became the largest party in the country, obtaining over 22% of the vote in Flanders. He quickly formed a coalition with the Flemish socialists and greens and the French-speaking counterparts of these parties (a symmetric coalition) in Brussels and Wallonia. He was appointed prime minister on 12 July 1999, the first liberal to hold that office since 1938. It was the first Belgian government without a Christian Democratic party since 1958, and the first one to include green parties.

File:Vladimir Putin in Belgium 1-2 October 2001-2.jpg in 2001]]

Verhofstadt was awarded the Vision for Europe Award in 2002 for his work toward a more unified Europe. The economic situation gave him leeway to raise the lowest social benefits and lower taxation. After 2001, the economic situation worsened. The 'Aging Fund' or 'Silver Fund' was set up, in order to ensure the maintenance of pensions until 2030.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}

Much to the disapproval of his coalition partners, Verhofstadt and his VLD opposed granting the right to vote to non-EU residents. Instead, they proposed and were able to liberalise the procedure for obtaining Belgian citizenship. During the prelude to the Iraq crisis of 2003, Belgium joined France, Germany and Russia in opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.{{cite news |title=Bush calls on EU to 'draw line under' recent tensions |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/bush-calls-on-eu-to-draw-line-under-recent-tensions-1.417068 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=22 February 2005}}

{{Main|Verhofstadt II Government}}

Following the 2003 general elections,{{cite web|url=http://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/eem/0197-the-socialists-and-liberals-in-power-win-the-belgian-general-elections|title=The socialists and liberals in power win the belgian{{sic |nolink=yes}} general elections ... Results ... Victory for the two main parties of the outgoing government: liberals and socialists|date=18 May 2013|author=Corinne Deloy|publisher=Robert Schuman Foundation|access-date=10 March 2017}} Verhofstadt formed his second cabinet without the green parties, who were virtually annihilated in the election. For various reasons, the formation of the second government was delayed well beyond normal: the economic situation worsened to 1999 levels, both politically similar parties (liberals and socialists) gained approximately the same seats.

Guy Verhofstadt's second Government consisted of his liberal Open VLD their sister liberal MR, the Flemish social democratic SP.a and their sister social democratic party PS to form another Purple coalition.{{Cite web |title=APPENDIX A3 - European Social Survey |url=https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/docs/round7/survey/ESS7_appendix_a3_e03_1.pdf |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817112344/https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/docs/round7/survey/ESS7_appendix_a3_e03_1.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Following international pressure over Belgium's War Crimes Law, which asserted universal jurisdiction, allowing anyone to bring war crime charges in Belgian courts, Verhofstadt's second government agreed to amend the law in favour of more limited jurisdiction. The law had faced criticism that it was encouraging politically motivated complaints.{{cite news |title=Belgium to Amend Controversial War Crimes Law |url=https://www.dw.com/en/belgium-to-amend-controversial-war-crimes-law/a-899778 |access-date=8 March 2021 |agency=DW |date=23 June 2003}}

In the Flemish regional elections of 13 June 2004, his party lost votes, slipping into third place in Flanders. Though this has had no direct impact upon his position as prime minister, there were rumours that the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) party that won the elections, would participate in federal government. Verhofstadt was suggested as a candidate to replace Romano Prodi as the next President of the European Commission, but his candidacy was opposed and rejected by a coalition led by Tony Blair and other leaders who had disagreed with Verhofstadt's uncompromising criticisms of the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq the previous year.{{cite web|title=Blair's rebirth as a player in European politics not a done deal |author= Jamie Smyth|date=6 October 2009|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/blair-s-rebirth-as-a-player-in-european-politics-not-a-done-deal-1.751560| newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=10 March 2017}}

File:Defense.gov News Photo 050608-F-7203T-130.jpg in 2005]]

After this Verhofstadt was faced with a succession of internal crises. The first, coming to a head in the autumn of 2004, was the question whether DHL would invest in Brussels Airport, located in the Flemish municipality of Zaventem. The question which nearly caused the collapse of the cabinet was whether to grant DHL extra landing rights during the night, this being a hot topic of public debate and various court cases.{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3762378.stm|title=DHL scraps Brussels growth plan|date=21 October 2004|work=BBC News Channel|publisher=BBC, London|access-date=10 March 2017}} In the end the split between employment and night rest was for nought as DHL had only used the Zaventem option in order to get better conditions from Leipzig.{{cite web|publisher=DW Akademie |title= Leipzig Hopes to Gain DHL Hub: Courier service DHL is expected to set up an intercontinental hub either in Vatry, France, or Leipzig, Germany. For the eastern German city, a lot is at stake.|date=22 October 2004|url=http://www.dw.com/en/leipzig-hopes-to-gain-dhl-hub/a-1368759|access-date=10 March 2017}}

Following the DHL crisis, Verhofstadt faced a crisis over the allocation of constitutional and administrative powers and responsibilities for the Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde district (commonly abbreviated as BHV). Division of the powers had been written into the government coalition agreement by the parties controlling the Flemish regional government. This triggered a veto from the Walloon parties.{{cite web|title=BHV spat keeps PM from Moscow celebrations|publisher=Expatica newsletter|date=9 May 2005|url=http://www.expatica.com/be/news/BHV-spat-keeps-PM-from-Moscow-celebrations_129157.html|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=12 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312041515/http://www.expatica.com/be/news/BHV-spat-keeps-PM-from-Moscow-celebrations_129157.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/b-h-v-storm-waait-over-verhofstadt-blijft~abbfa4c2/|date=12 May 2005|title=B-H-V-storm waait over, Verhofstadt blijft|author= Wouter Bax|publisher=Persgroep Nederland B.V. (de Verdieping Trouw)|access-date=10 March 2017}} The crisis dragged on until spring 2005, when the matter was shelved till after the federal elections of 2007.{{cite web|title=Verhofstadt overleeft 'BHV'-crisis|url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/verhofstadt-overleeft-bhv-crisis~a669033/|date=12 May 2005|author=Bart Dirks|publisher=Persgroep Nederland B.V. (De Volkskrant)|access-date=10 March 2017}} By 2005, the Flemish parties participating in the government did not want the government to collapse, given their poor ratings in the opinion polls.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}

Verhofstadt voiced concern over the 2006 Lebanon War. Verhofstadt said that Israel has the right to defend itself, but has now responded with excessive violence.Journal télévisé (19h30), La Une, 14 July 2006{{in lang|nl}} [https://archive.today/20070930195418/http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_229542.html Betoging in Brussel tegen Israëlisch militair optreden], Het Laatste Nieuws

On 13 December 2006, a regular programming on the Belgian national television channel La Une was interrupted for a news bulletin claiming that the Flemish parliament had issued a unilateral declaration of independence from the Kingdom of Belgium, mimicking the Belgian secession from the Netherlands some 175 years earlier. The broadcast of the report led to widespread alarm and consternation in French-speaking Belgium and Verhofstadt condemned the report as "irresponsible".{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/14/europe/EU_GEN_Belgium_Independence_Hoax.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312200412/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/14/europe/EU_GEN_Belgium_Independence_Hoax.php|title=Belgian viewers fall for TV hoax announcing breakaway state|archive-date=12 March 2007}} In the years coming to the hoax there was rising Flemish separatism and the Vlaams Belang party received strong support in the regional elections.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6178671.stm|title=Viewers fooled by 'Belgium split'|date=14 December 2006|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} The hoax almost became reality in 2007 after a major political crisis drove many to believe that the partition of Belgium was almost certain.{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/certain-ideas-of-europe/2007/09/19/half-the-flemish-want-to-split-belgium|title=Half the Flemish want to split Belgium|date=19 September 2007|newspaper=The Economist}}

The constitutional court of Belgium ruled that all elections held after 10 June 2007, would be constitutionally invalid because of the non-separation of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde. In the autumn of 2005, Verhofstadt managed to score a success when he was able to negotiate a "Generation Pact" with regard to employment and social reforms, regardless of the opposition and actions of the unions.{{cite news |title=Praise, criticism from unions and employers |url=https://www.expatica.com/be/uncategorized/praise-criticism-from-unions-and-employers-81896/ |access-date=8 March 2021 |agency=Expatica |date=12 October 2005}}

Verhofstadt was sworn in as municipal councilor in Ghent in January 2007, as a result of the 2006 municipal elections. In the council, he is seated next to another cabinet minister, Freya Van den Bossche, who was elected a municipal councillor as well. He even postponed a visit to the Russian President Vladimir Putin to be able to go to the first session of the newly elected council. {{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

{{main|Verhofstadt III Government}}

Verhofstadt led the VLD into the 2007 general election. Already with the 2006 municipal elections, the VLD showed signs of fatigue with the Flemish voter, who seem to have had enough of eight years of Verhofstadt, and the purple coalition governments. In an evening speech on election day, Verhofstadt conceded defeat and asked for a new generation to lead the VLD; he was to step down as prime minister after formation of a new government. However, the formation of a new government was complicated, and in the end, CD&V politician Yves Leterme failed to bring about a new government.

Yet certain policy matters became politically urgent. The King therefore asked Verhofstadt to mediate an "interim government" that would be in office for three months and could propose a 2008 budget. A deal was struck in December, and the "interim government" was set for inauguration on 21 December 2007. Two days later, this interim government won a vote of confidence in parliament, with 97 votes in favor, 46 opposed, and one abstention, assuring its legitimacy for three months.{{cite news|title=Belgium's Interim Government Wins Parliamentary Confidence Vote|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aixhkPdyS18A&refer=europe|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721160522/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aixhkPdyS18A&refer=europe|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 July 2012|publisher=Bloomberg|date=23 December 2007|access-date=3 August 2014}}

One of the first decisions of the new government, on 21 December 2007, was to raise the security level after foiling an attempted jail break of an Al Qaeda operative.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122102160.html |title=Belgium Arrests 14 in Plot to Free Inmate Linked to Al-Qaeda |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=22 December 2007 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-22-fg-jailbreak22-story.html |title=14 held amid high terrorism alert in Belgium |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=22 December 2007 }}

Belgium was one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence on 24 February 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.ad.nl/buitenland/article2082987.ece|title=België erkent Kosovo|language=nl|date=25 February 2008|publisher=Algemeen Dagblad}}

A "permanent government" under leadership of Yves Leterme assumed office on 20 March 2008.{{cite magazine|title=Belgium Finally Gets a Government|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1697607,00.html|magazine=Time|date=21 December 2007|access-date=3 August 2014}}

After his premiership Verhofstadt took up the seat of Senator to which he had been elected in 2007.

File:Afscheid oud-premier Juncker (12596139824).jpg, Mark Rutte and two former Dutch prime ministers in 2014]]

In the 2009 European Parliament election, Verhofstadt was elected a member of the European Parliament for the term 2009–2014. He has since been appointed to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

On 1 July 2009, Verhofstadt was elected President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group in the European Parliament.{{cite web |url=http://theyorkshireguidon.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/duff-verhofstadt-drive-to-federal-europe-sees-its-first-liberal-casualty |title=Duff-Verhofstadt drive to federal Europe sees its first Liberal casualty |access-date=23 June 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627212230/http://theyorkshireguidon.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/duff-verhofstadt-drive-to-federal-europe-sees-its-first-liberal-casualty |archive-date=27 June 2009}} In this capacity, he was also a member of the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament until July 2019.

In June 2009 Verhofstadt was put forward as the possible candidate for replacing José Manuel Barroso as the president of the European Commission by a coalition of greens, socialists and liberals.{{cite news|title=Support growing for Verhofstadt to replace Barroso|url=http://www.euractiv.com/en/eu-elections/support-growing-verhofstadt-replace-barroso/article-183074|publisher=EurActiv.com|date=10 June 2009|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-date=9 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609195117/http://www.euractiv.com/en/eu-elections/support-growing-verhofstadt-replace-barroso/article-183074|url-status=dead}} On 15 September 2010, he supported the new Spinelli Group, which was founded to reinvigorate the drive for federalisation of the European Union.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tepsa.eu/the-spinelli-group-launched-its-manifesto-for-the-future-of-europe/|title=Trans European Policy Studies Association|access-date=13 August 2019|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127141216/http://www.tepsa.eu/the-spinelli-group-launched-its-manifesto-for-the-future-of-europe/|url-status=dead}}

In 2010, Belgian Liberal member of the European Parliament and Verhofstadt's close ally Louis Michel called King Leopold II of Belgium, the Congo Free State's colonial master responsible for the deaths of between 3 million and 10 million Congolese Africans, a "visionary hero". Verhofstadt, then leader of the Liberals in the European Parliament, refused to comment on Michel's controversial remarks.{{cite news |title=Ex-commissioner calls Congo's colonial master a 'visionary hero' |url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/30345 |work=EUobserver |date=22 June 2010}}{{cite news |title=Legacies of an imperial past in a small nation. Patterns of postcolonialism in Belgium |work=Europea Politics and Society |date=25 July 2019|doi=10.1080/23745118.2019.1645422 |last1=Verbeeck |first1=Georgi |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=292–306 }}

File:Big Crunch Presidential Debate (14069695682).jpg in 2014]]

In 2014, Verhofstadt contested for the role of Spitzenkandidat against a field that included José Bové, Martin Schulz and eventual winner Jean-Claude Juncker.{{cite news |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/wrap-up-eu-spitzenkandidaten-debate-in-brussels/ |title=Wrap-up: EU 'Spitzenkandidaten' debate in Brussels |date=15 May 2014 }}

In September 2016, Verhofstadt was named the European Parliament's representative on matters relating to Brexit. In his public statements, Verhofstadt has focused on the rights of EU citizens within the UK and British citizens in the EU.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/09/brexit-offer-eu-citzens-veto-british-porposal-european-parliament|title=Improve the Brexit offer to EU citizens, or we'll veto the deal |date=9 July 2017|access-date=25 September 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Guy|last=Verhofstadt}} In November 2016, Verhofstadt warned the European Parliament of a coming "ring of autocrats", citing the increasing assertiveness of Russia and Turkey, and contemplating the (at that time widely discounted) possibility of a Trump presidency.{{cite news|url= http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/eu-nimmt-kampf-gegen-populismus-an-a-1123161.html|title=Das neue Selbstbewusstsein der EU: Ist der Dreifach-Schock von Brexit, Türkei-Putschversuch und Trump-Wahl heilsam für Europa? Die EU zeigt erste Anzeichen einer Rückbesinnung auf ihre Werte - und den Willen, sie offensiv zu vertreten.|work=Kampf gegen Populismus|date=25 November 2016|author=Markus Becker|publisher=Der Spiegel (online)|access-date=10 March 2017}}{{cite web|title=Trump, Putin and Erdogan a 'ring of autocrats' trying to destroy Europe, says EU's chief Brexit negotiator: 'Not only do they like each other, they also have one thing in common. Bashing and destroying our way of thinking, our values, our European liberal democracy,' Guy Verhofstadt says|author= Shehab Khan |date=22 November 2016|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-president-erdogan-russia-turkey-europe-threat-guy-verhofstad-a7432206.html|newspaper=The Independent, London|access-date=10 March 2017}}

From 2019, Verhofstadt was a member of the Working Group on the Conference on the Future of Europe.{{Cite web |title=ORGANISATION |url=https://civilsocietyeurope.eu/about-us/organisation/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Civil Society Europe |language=en-US}} By 2021, the European Parliament appointed him as its chair to lead the Conference on the Future of Europe.Maïa de La Baume (19 March 2021), [https://www.politico.eu/article/guy-verhofstadt-will-lead-parliaments-work-on-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe/ Guy Verhofstadt gets Parliament's top post for conference on EU's future] Politico Europe.

On 8 May 2023 Verhofstadt announced his retirement from politics after the term of the present parliament concluded.{{cite news |last1=Moller-Nielsen |first1=Thomas |title=Former Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt to retire from politics in 2024 |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/494091/former-belgian-pm-guy-verhofstadt-to-retire-from-politics-in-2024 |publisher=Brussels Times |date=8 May 2023}}

On 11 April 2024 Verhofstadt led the Parliament to deny budgetary resources to the European Council because they had not yet found the air defences that were needed by the Ukrainians, as they fought off the Russian forces of Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-parliament-delays-approval-council-budget-press-military-aid-ukraine/ |title=EU Parliament delays approval of Council budget to press for military aid to Ukraine |date=11 April 2024 }} He was supported by 515 yeas against 62 nays and the motion passed.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/european-parliament-blocks-decision-on-eu-council-budget-due-to-patriot-for-ukraine/ar-BB1lsFAz}}

• APG Asset Management, Member of the Board of Directors{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Harry |title=Parliamentarians can keep the (other) day job |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-can-have-second-jobs-guy-verhofstadt-belgium-ngo/ |work=POLITICO |date=1 November 2016}}
• Sofina, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (since 2012)"Moniteur Belge" on-line, 21 May 2012[https://www.sofinagroup.com/board-management/ Board of Directors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143424/https://www.sofinagroup.com/board-management/ |date=12 June 2018 }} Sofina.
• Exmar Group, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (2010–2016)Laurens Cerulus (21 November 2017), [https://www.politico.eu/article/guy-verhofstadt-linked-to-paradise-papers-company/ Guy Verhofstadt linked to Paradise Papers company] Politico Europe.

His income from these activities is estimated to be at least 180,000 euros {{Cite web|url=https://www.integritywatch.eu/mepincomes|title=EU Integrity Watch: monitor potential conflicts of interests|website=www.integritywatch.eu}}

• Berggruen Institute, Member of the Council for the Future of Europe[https://www.berggruen.org/people/group/cfe/ Council for the Future of Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504151348/https://www.berggruen.org/people/group/cfe/ |date=4 May 2019 }} Berggruen Institute.
• Club de Madrid, Member{{cite web|url=http://www.clubmadrid.org/en/miembro/guy_verhofstadt|title=Guy Verhofstadt|publisher=Clubmadrid.org|access-date=24 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626222329/http://www.clubmadrid.org/en/miembro/guy_verhofstadt|archive-date=26 June 2012|url-status=dead}}
• European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), Chairman of the Board of Governors{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}
• European Movement International, Member of the Honorary Council[https://europeanmovement.eu/who-we-are/honorary-presidents-and-council/ Honorary Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821113733/https://europeanmovement.eu/who-we-are/honorary-presidents-and-council/ |date=21 August 2018 }} European Movement International.
• Friends of Europe, Member of the Board of Trustees{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}
• European Leadership Network (ELN), Senior Network Member{{Cite web|title=Senior Network|url=https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/networks/network-members/|access-date=21 September 2020|website=www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org|language=en-GB}}

Since 2011, Verhofstadt has written monthly commentaries on strategic spotlights for Project Syndicate, an international media organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.project-syndicate.org/columnist/guy-verhofstadt|title=Guy Verhofstadt - Project Syndicate|website=Project Syndicate|language=en|access-date=20 October 2017}}

Verhofstadt opposed the American-led invasion of Iraq. In 2005, during a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush, Verhofstadt said: "The time has come to draw a line under the tensions of the recent past. It makes little sense to continue arguing about who was right and who was wrong."

As prime minister, Verhofstadt supported "ethical diplomacy", international law and multilateralism, as well as Louis Michel's équidistance policy in the Arab–Israeli conflict. Relations with Israel improved after Verhofstadt's government in 2003 weakened the so-called genocide law, under which Ariel Sharon could have been tried in Belgium for the Sabra and Shatila massacre.{{cite journal|first1=Brigitte|last1=Herremans|title=Belgium and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Cautious Pursuit of a Just Peace|jstor=26531597|journal=Studia Diplomatica|date=2013|pages=77–94|volume=66|issue=4|url=https://www.academia.edu/download/35920894/Studia_Diplomatica_LXVI-4_2013_Herremans.pdf}} The 2001 Belgian EU presidency semester was considered cautious on the matter.{{cite book|doi= 10.4324/9780203400968|title= The Belgian presidency of 2001: cautious leadership as trademark|author1=Bart Kerremans|author2=Edith Drieskens|editor-first1= Ole|editor-last1= Elgström|date= 2004|isbn= 978-1-134-39043-4}}

In 2024, during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, Verhofstadt called for a "ceasefire now".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/guyverhofstadt/status/1766079608921653449|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309112815/https://twitter.com/guyverhofstadt/status/1766079608921653449|title=More than 25.000 women and children killed in Gaza… a dark International Women's Day that recalls our commitment to do everything we can to protect the weakest in society! Ceasefire now!|date=2024-03-08|archive-date=9 March 2024|access-date=9 March 2024|url-status=bot: unknown}}

Verhofstadt condemned the killings of protesters during Bahrain's pro-democracy uprising in 2011. He said: "Protestors were killed, tortured and imprisoned. These incidents need to be properly investigated and brought to justice - not swept under the carpet. Until this has happened, I fully agree that the Formula One Grand Prix should not return to Bahrain."{{cite news |title=EU voices mixed emotions about Yemen revolution |url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/32442 |work=EUobserver |date=6 June 2011}}

File:Flickr - Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya - President Mas durant la roda de premsa amb Verhofstadt, Watson i Tremosa.jpg's leader Artur Mas in 2012]]

In 2017, Verhofstadt opposed the Catalan independence referendum, but also denounced Spain's use of violence. Verhofstadt said that "referendum lacked basic democratic legitimacy".{{cite news |title=Catalan vote was 'FIXED': Verhofstadt condemns 'deception and manipulation' of referendum |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/862405/Catalonia-referendum-Catalan-independence-fixed-Guy-Verhofstadt-Spain-democracy |work=Express.co.uk |date=5 October 2017}} According to Verhofstadt, the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont "left Catalonia in chaos and devastation".{{cite news |title=Puigdemont is 'chaos' Tintin, says influential EU figure Guy Verhofstadt |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20171101/puigdemont-is-chaos-tintin-says-influential-eu-figure-guy-verhofstadt |work=The Local |date=1 November 2017}}

In April 2015, Verhofstadt criticized Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras over his meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the wake of the Russo-Ukrainian War and difficult negotiations between the EU/ECB/IMF and Tsipras's recently elected Syriza-led government. Via Twitter according to the New York Times, Verhofstadt said Tsipras "should stop trying to play Putin against the EU" and that Tsipras "should play according to the common rules and conduct serious reforms".Herszenhorn, David, and Liz Alderman, [http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/world/europe/putin-russia-alexis-tsipras-greece-financial-crisis.html "Putin Meets With Alexis Tsipras of Greece, Raising Eyebrows in Europe"], The New York Times, 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.

In May 2015, news media reported that Verhofstadt was included in a Russian blacklist of prominent people from the European Union who are not allowed to enter the country.Laurence Norman (30 May 2015), [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-produces-blacklist-of-eu-people-banned-from-entering-russia-1432986289 Russia Produces Blacklist of EU People Banned From Entering Country] Wall Street Journal.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32949236 European Union anger at Russian travel blacklist] BBC News, 31 May 2015.

In June 2018, Verhofstadt said there was a "circle of evil around our continent": Putin's Russia, Erdoğan's Turkey and Trump's United States. Verhofstadt added: "But our problem runs deeper than that, deeper than only foreign policy or external security. Europe has a fifth column in its ranks. ... I call them the cheerleaders of Putin: Le Pen, Wilders, Farage. ... Together with government leaders like Orbán, Kaczyński, Salvini: these people have only one goal and that is to destroy Europe, to kill our liberal democracy."{{cite news |title=Brexit: Nigel Farage is a 'fifth columnist' Putin cheerleader, says Guy Verhofstadt |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-nigel-farage-putin-cheerleader-eu-russia-guy-verhofstadt-erdogan-a8396476.html |work=The Independent |date=13 June 2018}}

On 8 September 2017, Verhofstaft branded Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi "a disgrace" following her controversial comments about the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar.{{cite web |title=MEPs condemn Aung San Suu Kyi's Myanmar comments |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/meps-condemn-aung-san-suu-kyis-myanmar-comments |work=The Parliament Magazine |date=8 September 2017 | access-date=7 July 2020}}

===Turkey===

{{Main|Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey–European Union relations}}

In November 2016, Verhofstadt said "There is broad, broad majority in the house to say you have to freeze accessions talks for the moment and put a number of conditions to restart them once Turkey is compliant."{{cite web |title=EU lawmakers urge suspension of Turkey membership talks |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-lawmakers-urge-suspension-of-turkey-membership-talks/a-36486658 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=22 November 2016 | access-date=7 July 2020}}

In May 2017, he accused President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of cynicism for advocating freedom of speech while journalists are imprisoned in Turkey.{{cite web |title=Verhofstadt echoes calls to freeze Turkey EU accession talks |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/verhofstadt-echoes-calls-to-freeze-turkey-eu-accession-talks |work=The Parliament Magazine |date=15 March 2017 | access-date=7 July 2020}}

In August 2015, Verhofstadt called for a reform of the EU's asylum and migration system, in reaction to the European migrant crisis. He also criticised UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French president François Hollande for opposing the European Commission's proposal to distribute asylum requests for migrants over all countries of the European Union. He also called on governments of France, the UK, and Hungary to stop building up walls and border security measures, and to shift their effort on humanitarian assistance.{{Cite journal|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/guy-verhofstadt/politique-immigration-union-europeenne_b_8007656.html|title = Face à la situation des migrants, l'UE a besoin de leadership, pas d'ériger des murs|last = Verhofstadt|first = Guy|date = 20 August 2015|journal = Le Huffington Post}} This humanitarian assistance includes asking the dysfunctional countries that source migrants to address their own dysfunction.{{Cite journal|url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/guy-verhofstadt/post_9978_b_8010638.html|title = Migration in the EU: We Need Leadership, Not Walls|last = Verhofstadt|first = Guy|date = 20 August 2015|journal = Huffington Post}}

Following the results of 2005 European Constitution referendum in France and The Netherlands, Verhofstadt released his book, Verenigde Staten van Europa ("United States of Europe"). Written in Dutch, the book claims – based on the results of a Eurobarometer questionnaire – that the average European citizen wants "more Europe".{{cite web|title=Verhofstadt's United States of Europe |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/verhofstadts-united-states-of-europe/ |website=Politico|date=12 July 2005 |access-date=7 July 2020}}

In September 2019, Verhofstadt gave a speech at the conference of the UK Liberal Democrats in Bournemouth, saying that "the world of tomorrow is not a world order based on nation states or countries. It is a world order that is based on empires. China, is not a nation, it's a civilisation. India is not a nation. The US is also an empire, more than a nation. And then finally the Russian Federation. The world of tomorrow is a world of empires in which we Europeans, and you British, can only defend your interests, your way of life, by doing it together, in a European framework and in the European Union."{{cite web|title=Watch: Guy Verhofstadt on the world's 'empires'|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/watch-guy-verhofstadt-on-the-world-s-empires-|website=The Spectator|date=15 September 2019|access-date=7 July 2020}}

===Brexit===

{{Main|Brexit}}

In January 2013, three years before the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Verhofstadt said "[ Brexit ] is stupidity for a country with 53 percent of its exports going to the Continent and to the rest of Europe. It's even so stupid that Britain's best friends, the United States, don't understand it all."{{cite web |title=The man representing the EU in the Brexit talks wants to give Britain the worst deal possible |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/the-man-representing-the-eu-in-the-brexit-talks-wants-to-give-britain-the-worst-deal-possible/articleshow/54274071.cms |work=Business Insider |date=10 September 2016}}

In February 2016, in the run-up to the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Verhofstadt said "The only winners from a Brexit would be Nigel Farage and Vladimir Putin; who would relish a divided Europe."{{cite web |title=Guy Verhofstadt's 7 best Brexit burns |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-negotiator-guy-verhofstadts-7-best-brexit-burns/ |work=Politico |date=9 September 2016}}

In July 2016, Verhofstadt said "Politically, the UK is already on its way to becoming an adversary, rather than a trusted partner, of the EU… Theresa May actually opposed Brexit, yet her anti-European hostility differs only in degree, not in kind, from that of pro-Brexit politicians… who rejoice at the possibility of additional exit referenda across the EU."

In October 2017, Verhofstadt claimed that Northern Ireland was stuck in a "frozen conflict". He said: "There are fences 12 metres high and this is in the 21st Century."{{cite news |title=Brexit negotiator Verhofstadt's shock at Belfast peace walls - Northern Ireland's 'frozen conflict' |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-negotiator-verhofstadts-shock-at-belfast-peace-walls-northern-irelands-frozen-conflict-36191951.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=3 October 2017}}

In a Twitter post on 13 June 2018, Verhofstadt accused Nigel Farage of using "Kremlin money and claimed Aaron Banks "colluded with the Russians to deliver Brexit". Lawyers, on behalf of Banks, issued Verhofstadt with a legal letter and said the allegations "are false".{{cite news |title=Brexit Bulletin: EU's Guy Verhofstadt in hot water over Russia tweets |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/14/brexit-bulletin-eus-guy-verhofstadt-hot-water-russia-tweets/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 June 2018|last1=Rothwell |first1=James }}

In February 2019, Verhofstadt said that Brexit leaders such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg would suffer a similar fate to the leaders of the French Revolution and "end up on the guillotine".{{cite news |title=Guy Verhofstadt warns Brexiteers could end up on the guillotine like the leaders of the French Revolution |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/12/guy-verhofstadt-warns-brexiteers-could-end-guillotine-like-leaders/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=12 February 2019}}

In May 2019, Verhofstadt made public a private joke between him and the UK's chief negotiator, Olly Robbins, in which Robbins "joked that he would want EU citizenship after Brexit".{{cite news |title=Britain's chief negotiator Olly Robbins 'asked to become Belgian' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/britain-s-chief-negotiator-olly-robbins-asked-to-become-belgian-r2n903g0j |work=The Times |date=9 June 2019 |access-date=7 July 2020|last1=Moore |first1=Oliver Wright }}

On 10 May 2019, Verhofstadt joined anti-Brexit supporters in London. He said "We have to stop nationalism and populism the fastest as possible because otherwise, it could be the end of a fantastic project".{{cite web |title=Guy Verhofstadt: I don't know if Brexit will happen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48232168 |work=BBC |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=7 July 2020}}

On 25 July 2019, Guy Verhofstadt branded UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's vow to take the UK out of the EU on 31 October as "irresponsible", due to the possibility of a No-deal Brexit.{{cite web |title=MEPs warn Boris Johnson has "greatly increased the risk" of a no-deal Brexit |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/meps-warn-boris-johnson-has-greatly-increased-the-risk-of-a-nodeal-brexit |work=The Parliament Magazine |date=25 July 2019 | access-date=7 July 2020}}

In September 2019, Guy Verhofstadt attacked the words used by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during the Brexit process, calling it "the language of Europe's dark past".{{cite web |title=Guy Verhofstadt: Boris Johnson's Brexit rhetoric is 'language of Europe's dark past' |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/guy-verhofstadt-boris-johnsons-brexit-rhetoric-is-language-of-europes-dark-past |work=The Parliament Magazine |date=6 September 2019 | access-date=7 July 2020}}

In 2023, Verhofstadt re-iterated his criticisms of Brexit, stating that it paved the path for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Verhofstadt, Putin would have been more wary of invading if there was a more united Europe, especially on defence matters.{{Cite web |last=Crisp |first=James |date=2023-01-31 |title=Brexit caused the Ukraine war, says ex-Belgian PM |url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/brexit-caused-the-ukraine-war-says-ex-belgian-pm-20230201-p5cgz2.html |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=The Age |language=en}}

• {{Flag|Belgium}}: Minister of State, by Royal decree.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/showSenator&ID=420&LANG=nl|title=Guy Verhofstadt|website=www.senate.be}}
• {{Flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold (21 April 2008)
• {{Flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown (5 June 2007)

• {{Flag|Denmark}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (2002)
• {{Flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (30 March 2004)
• {{Flag|Greece}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour (2005)
• {{Flag|Italy}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 February 1986)Italian Presidency website, [http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=16316 S.E. Guy VERHOFSTADT] – Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
• {{Flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (2003)
• {{Flag|Poland}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (14 October 2004){{Cite web|url=http://prawo.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WMP20050090162|title=Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 18 października 2004 r. o nadaniu orderów|website=prawo.sejm.gov.pl|access-date=7 August 2019|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611031052/http://prawo.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WMP20050090162|url-status=dead}}
• {{Flag|Spain}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (2000)
• {{Flag|Sweden}}: Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (2001)

• {{flag|European Union}}: In 2007, Verhofstadt received the European Book Prize for United States of Europe.
• {{flag|European Union}}: In 2019, Verhofstadt received the Outstanding Achievement award at The Parliament Magazine{{'s}} annual MEP Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/event-coverage/mep-awards-2019-heartfelt-reactions-our-winners|title=MEP Awards 2019: Heartfelt reactions from our winners|last=Hutchinson|first=Lorna|date=21 March 2019|work=The Parliament Magazine|access-date=13 August 2019}}

{{Portal|Belgium|Biography|European Union}}

• Crown Council of Belgium
• United States of Europe
• Dirk Verhofstadt, his brother

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.guyverhofstadt.be/ Guy Verhofstadt] (Personal website, Dutch, French, English)
• [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/search.do?country=BE&zone=Nederlands+Kiescollege&language=EN/ Guy Verhofstadt]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (European Parliament Profile)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101026021044/http://www.alde.eu/alde-group/guy-verhofstadt-mep-leader-alde-group/ Guy Verhofstadt] (ALDE Leader Profile)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100312053332/http://www.iiea.com/events/politics-talk-guy-verhofstadt-belgium-mep Interview with Guy Verhofstadt] at IIEA.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190212173737/http://spinelligroup.eu/ Spinelli Group]
• [http://www.federalists.eu/ Union of European Federalists]
• {{C-SPAN|91307}}

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