Armand De Decker (8 October 1948 – 12 June 2019) was a prominent Belgian politician active in francophone liberal politics. He belonged to the Mouvement réformateur (MR) and combined roles at the national parliamentary level with local leadership in the Brussels region.
Political career and offices
De Decker served twice as President of the Belgian Senate, presiding from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2010. He also held municipal office as mayor of Uccle until 2017. Born in Brussels, his career spanned both federal institutions and local government, making him a familiar figure in francophone public life.
Role and responsibilities
As President of the Senate, De Decker acted as the chamber’s presiding officer: chairing plenary sessions, overseeing the legislative agenda in the upper house, and representing the Senate in official functions. The office involves procedural authority, public representation and a moderating role during debates among political groups.
Local leadership and municipal work
In Uccle, De Decker’s mayoralty focused on municipal administration, local services and neighbourhood affairs. Mayors in Belgian municipalities combine executive responsibilities with a visible civic role, and his tenure linked national experience with daily concerns of local residents.
Legacy
De Decker’s career illustrates the dual pathways common in Belgian politics, where national parliamentary leadership and municipal office often overlap. He was widely known within the francophone liberal family and remembered for his long service in public life. Armand De Decker died in Uccle on 12 June 2019 at the age of 70.
- Party: Mouvement réformateur (MR)
- Notable offices: President of the Senate (1999–2004, 2007–2010)
- Local office: Mayor of Uccle (until 2017)