Word: lef
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Architect of peace, and Belgium's new Premier, is Théo Lefèvre, burly, beak-nosed boss of the Social Christians. At 47, Lefèvre belongs to a rising new generation of European leaders, is scarcely known outside his own country. A wartime resistance leader, tough, determined Lefèvre entered Parliament at 32 as a fervent royalist. When his party's old guard acquiesced to the Socialists' demand for Leopold III's abdication, Lefèvre organized a "Young Turks" revolt, and took over the party leadership. The oldtimers growled...
...Lefèvre decided that the time had come to end his long feud with the Socialists. "Belgium must end its violent quarreling, its partisan rivalry, its sterile rancors," he told his followers. "A new generation demands a more farseeing attitude...
...compromise, even agreed to accept some of the Loi Unique's tougher provisions, such as an increased sales tax. Stickiest question was whether the Social Christians would agree to the release of the hundreds of Socialistled rioters who had been jailed in the January rioting. No, said Lefèvre, but he appointed a Socialist as Minister of Justice so that paroles could be expedited...
Despite their losses, the Social Christians were still the strongest party, would be the backbone of any new coalition. Badly trounced Gaston Eyskens would not be at its head. Emerging as new Social Christian candidate for the premiership is tough, freewheeling 47-year-old Théo Lefèvre. president of the party since 1950. In the end, Lefèvre would probably turn not to the Liberals but to the Socialists for help in forming a government. Socialist Leader Paul-Henri Spaak himself has ambitions for the nation's top job; moreover, the Socialists insisted that they...