Paul Guillaume, Viscount van Zeeland (11 November 1893 – 22 September 1973) was a Belgian lawyer, economist, Catholic politician, and statesman born in Soignies.
Van Zeeland was a professor of law and later director of the Institute of Economic Science at the Catholic University of Leuven (Leuven), and vice-governor of the National Bank of Belgium.
In March 1935, he became the prime minister of a government of national unity (a coalition comprising the three major parties: Catholics, Liberals and Socialists). Given decree powers, he abated a national economic crisis by devaluing the currency and implementing expansive budgetary policies.
Van Zeeland's government resigned in the spring of 1936 due to the agitation of Rexism (a Belgian fascist party). On 24 May 1936, a general election took place. The Labour party won 70 of 202 seats (minus 3), Zeeland's Catholic Party 61 seats (minus 18) and the new Rexists 21 seats. Van Zeeland continued as Prime Minister leading a government of national unity, composed of the three major parties (Catholics, Socialists and Liberals).
On 2 June 1936, a wildcat strike among dockworkers in the Port of Antwerp broke out and quickly spread to other industrial regions without the endorsement of the country's major trades unions. It was characterised by the new tactic of workplace occupations.
The Belgian strike was unusual in uniting socialist and Catholic trade union federations in support. Van Zeeland agreed to convene a National Labour Conference (Conférence Nationale du Travail) on 17 June 1936 to bring together trade union and company representatives. It brokered a compromise agreement including the introduction of a legal minimum wage, six days' paid holidays, and a maximum 40-hour working week for workers in particular industrial occupations. The strike formally ended on 2 July 1936. Van Zeeland was PM until 23 November 1937. After proclaiming martial law, his second government suppressed the Rexists. It introduced measures against unemployment, which helped ease the political tensions. Also during his second term, Belgium gave up its military alliance with France and reverted to its traditional "neutrality" policy, now dubbed a "policy of independence".
In spring 1937, the rexist Léon Degrelle blamed him for having received money from the Belgian Nation Bank. Zeeland denied that but a commission found out he had received 330.000 bfr. Zeeland resigned and the king named Paul-Emile Janson as new PM.
In 1939, Van Zeeland became president of the Committee on Refugees, established in London, and was made High Commissioner for repatriating displaced Belgians in 1944. In 1946, he was one of the founders of the European League for Economic Cooperation.
After the war, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in several Catholic governments between 1949 and 1954 and as economic advisor to the Belgian government and to the council of ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. He was Honorary Secretary General of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group.In 2013, to the consternation of his family, it was discovered that he had founded a Panamanian offshore company.
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Some of their strengths
Paul van Zeeland has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Intense, Intuitive, Adventurous, Generous, Smart, Sophisticated, and Curious.
Intense and Passionate
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Paul van Zeeland is someone who is an intense, passionate, and intuitive person who is fiercely independent, authentic and direct when engaging with others. A person who is known for being a good communicator.
Passionate and Intense
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Paul van Zeeland well know them as someone who can be passionate, proud, and intense, like the sun or a blazing fire.
Methodical and Exacting
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Paul van Zeeland as someone who is careful, methodical, and a perfectionist.
A person who forms successful business partnerships, who appreciates the variety the world has to offer, who takes a frugal approach to life and tends to be a workaholic, and who engages in things that let them express their opinion.
Wise and Deep
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Paul van Zeeland is someone who tends to have an internal innate wisdom, and who people tend to see as an "old soul".
They are also someone who is intuitive, imaginative, and an agent of change, and who is always dreaming of life's great possibilities and partnering with people to try to achieve those possibilities.
Mysterious and Methodical
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Paul van Zeeland tends to be someone who can come across as mysterious and intense, who can be a complex thinker who is methodical and intuitive, and who can overcome challenges that most others would not be able to.
Some of Paul van Zeeland's challenges
While Paul van Zeeland has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Paul van Zeeland can be Complicated, Brusque, Impulsive, Careless, Difficult, Perfectionist, and Sensitive.
Complicated and Brusque
One of Paul van Zeeland's key challenges is that they are someone who can be complicated and gruff with others.
Paul van Zeeland must also exercise caution as they can be excessive and unrealistic.
Sensitive and Critical
Paul van Zeeland is someone who can be insecure, critical, and pessimistic, who can have difficulty relaxing, can be possessive and jealous, and who can have difficulty listening to others' opinions and perspectives and make hasty decisions.
Sensitive and Aggressive
Finally, Paul van Zeeland also can be too "touchy-feely", have a hard time expressing feelings, be too aggressive and headstrong, and be too unforgiving of others' mistakes.
