Gaby Colebunders
Gaby Colebunders | |
|---|---|
| File:Gaby Colebunders, national demonstration for purchasing power, December 16, 2022.jpg 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 |
| 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 | |
References
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