Steve Stevaert (Dutch pronunciation: [?stif ?ste?.va?rt]) (born April 12, 1954 in Rijkhoven as Robert Stevaert [Dutch pronunciation: [?ro?.b?rt ?ste?.va?rt]]) is a Belgian politician of the Flemish Socialist Party: the SP.A.After his studies at the "Hoger Rijksinstituut voor Toerisme, Hotelwezen en Voedingsbedrijven", Stevaert started as a bar owner in 1972. He became politically active in 1982 under the wings of his mentor Willy Claes. Stevaert was elected to the Provincial Council of Limburg from 1985 to 1995.He became mayor and member of the city council of Hasselt in 1995. There he became famous for his policy of free public transport in 1997, which gave him his nickname "Steve Stunt". Stevaert was in 1995 also elected to the Flemish parliament and was re-elected in 1999 and 2004.Stevaert served as Flemish minister of Public Works, Transport and Spatial planning from 1998 to 1999 and as Flemish minister of Mobility, Transport and Public Works from 1999 to 2003, when he resigned having become chairman of his party, succeeding Patrick Janssens.He was chairman from 2003 until he resigned on May 25, 2005, having been appointed governor of the province Limburg, in which function he succeeded governor Hilde Houben-Bertrand. He became the 15th governor, and also the first 'socialist' governor of this province. Caroline Gennez succeeded him as temporary chairman, until Johan Vande Lanotte became officially elected as the new chairman in October 2005. On June 9, 2009, the day of the Flemish regional elections, Stevaert announced he would step down as governor. He was succeeded by his fellow socialist Herman Reynders.Steve Stevaert was given the honorary title of Minister of State on January 26, 2004.
He was elected to the Flemish Parliament in 1995 and became a Flemish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for public works, transport and planning.
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He was drawn into politics by the then strong man of the Flemish socialist party in Limburg province Willy Claes.
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A spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor had announced earlier on Thursday the 2nd of April that he was to be prosecuted for rape, indecent assault and abuse of office. According to Belgian media, the alleged victim made no complaint until 2013, and Mr Stevaert was then questioned by police. The incident dated back to a TV programme, on which they were both guests, presented by a former Miss Belgium, Goedele Liekens, who has fronted talk-shows on Dutch as well as Belgian TV.
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In early April of 2015 allegations of rape were made public in the Belgian media. Subsequently on April 2, 2015, the public prosecutor of Hasselt confirmed that Steve Stevaert went missing. Near 6 PM local time divers found the body of Stevaert in the Albert Canal near Hasselt.
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Stevaert started as a bar owner in 1972.
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He became the 15th governor, and also the first 'socialist' governor of his province Limburg.
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Steve Stevaert was given the honorary title of Minister of State on January 26, 2004.
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He became mayor and member of the city council of Hasselt in 1995. There he became famous for his policy of free public transport in 1997, which gave him his nickname 'Steve Stunt'.