1981, LLB, University of Liege. 1981-85, Lawyer; 1985-88, General Manager, Local Authority Department, Ministry of the Walloon Region; 1986-91, Chairman, Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB); 1991-93, Chairman, Sabena (national airline); Lecturer, Hautes Ecoles Commerciales, Liege; Collaborator, Public Law Service, University of Liege. 1987-88, Chief of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice and Institutional Reforms; 1988, Town Councillor, Liege; 1992, Vice-Chairman, PRL and Deputy, House of Representatives; 1995, Head, PRL group, Liege City Council and Chairman, PRL-FDF group in the Chamber; 1995, Chairman, Liege Provincial and District Federation of the PRL; since July 1999, Minister of Finance of Belgium.