Rika De Backer
{{Short description|Belgian politician (1923–2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Rika De Backer, 1981, Bestanddeelnr 931-2614 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| office = Minister of Culture
| primeminister =
| predecessor =
| successor = Karel Poma
| term_start = 24 April 1974
| term_end = 1981
| birth_date = 1 February 1923
| birth_place = Antwerp
| death_date = {{death date and age|6 May 2002|1 February 1923|df=y}}
| death_place = Weert, Netherlands
| restingplace =
| party = Christian People's Party
| alma_mater =
| spouse = Herman De Backer
| children = 7
}}
Rika De Backer, also known as Rika De Backer-Van Ocken, (1923 – 2002) was a Belgian conservative politician. Being a member of the Christian People's Party she was the minister of culture from 1974 to 1981. She also served at the European Parliament between 1984 and 1989.
Early life and education
De Becker was born in Antwerp on 1 February 1923.{{cite web|title=Rika M.R. De Backer-Van Ocken|language=fr
|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/fr/1735/RIKA+M.R._DE+BACKER-VAN+OCKEN/history/2|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=2 July 2023}} She obtained a degree in history in 1944.{{cite news|title=Gewezen CVP-minister Rika De Backer overleden |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf05052002_008|access-date=3 July 2023|work=De Standaard|date=5 May 2002|language=nl}}
Career and activities
Following World War II De Backer joined the Catholic Workers Women's Guilds where she involved in activities to promote women's suffrage. She was a member of the Christian People's Party.{{cite news|title=Brève. Rika De Backer, ex-ministre|language=fr |url=https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/2002/05/06/breve-VZPXPXJXVRBTRGKTVYBDGMJHRY/|access-date=2 July 2023|work=La Libre|date=5 May 2002}} Her political career began in 1968 when she became vice chair of the party's Antwerp branch.
De Backer was appointed minister of culture and Flemish affairs on 24 April 1974 to the first cabinet of Leo Tindemans, being the first Belgian woman to hold a ministerial post.{{cite web|author=Hans Vanacker|title=Septentrion|access-date=2 July 2023|page=93 |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_sep001200201_01/_sep001200201_01_0078.php|website=dbnl.org|language=fr}} In this capacity she founded the Flemish Cultural Center in Amsterdam. She remained in office until late 1981 and was replaced by Karel Poma in the post.{{cite journal|author=Gertjan Willems|title=Conscience's De Leeuw van Vlaanderen (The Lion of Flanders) and Its Adaptation to Film by Claus|journal=Comparative Literature and Culture|year=2014|volume=16|issue=3|doi=10.7771/1481-4374.2318|doi-access=free}} She named as the state secretary for the Flemish community in 1979. De Backer continued to serve in the post in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens between April and December 1981.{{cite web|title=Proposition de déclaration de révision des articles 99 et 104 de la Constitution en vue d'insérer des dispositions nouvelles relatives à l'égalité de représentation des femmes et des hommes|publisher=Sénat de Belgique|language=fr|access-date=2 July 2023|date=5 June 1997|url=https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/publications/viewPubDoc&TID=16779314&LANG=fr}}
De Backer also served as a senator between 1971 and 1984.{{cite journal|title=Du dialogue communautaire de l'hiver 1976-1977 au pacte communautaire de mai 1977 (iii)|journal=Courrier Hebdomadaire du CRISP|year=1977|volume=37-38|issue=783–784|page=1|language=fr
|doi=10.3917/cris.783.0001|doi-access=free}} She was elected to the European Parliament in 1984 being part of the European People's Party and served there until 1989. She also headed the Agence de Coopération Technique or the Flemish development agency.{{cite journal
|author=Philippe Denis |title=The Missionaries of Africa and the Rwandan Genocide|journal=Journal of Religion in Africa|year=2021|volume=50
|issue=1–2|page=126|doi=10.1163/15700666-12340180|s2cid=238700091}}
Personal life, death and legacy
De Backer married Herman De Backer with whom she had seven children. She died of liver cancer in Weert on 6 May 2002.
One of the streets in Antwerp is named after Rika De Backer.{{cite news|title=Anvers travaille à la féminisation de ses noms de rues
|work=RTBF|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/anvers-travaille-a-la-feminisation-de-ses-noms-de-rues-9782046|access-date=2 July 2023|date=6 December 2017|language=fr}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons-inline}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Rika}}
Category:Christian Democratic and Flemish politicians
Category:Politicians from Antwerp
Category:Women government ministers of Belgium
Category:20th-century Belgian women politicians
Category:20th-century Belgian politicians