Hervé Hasquin: Belgium Mourns Loss of Statesman and Scholar
Belgium’s political and academic worlds are in mourning following the death of Hervé Hasquin, a towering figure of francophone liberalism and one of the most influential leaders in the history of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Hasquin died on 13 July 2026 at the age of 83, as announced by the ULB and confirmed by the Mouvement Réformateur (MR). Described as an “exceptional personality who left no one indifferent,” his passing has drawn tributes from across the spectrum, honoring a legacy that spanned academia, politics, and culture.
A Life Bridging Two Worlds
Born in Charleroi on 31 December 1942, during the German occupation, Hervé Hasquin earned his doctorate in Philosophy and Letters (History) from the ULB in 1970. He rose through the academic ranks to become a professor of modern history, specializing in 18th-century studies, the history of Belgian Freemasonry, and the political history of Belgium. His scholarly works on Wallonia, the Enlightenment, and secularism remain reference texts.
According to the ULB’s official tribute, Hasquin served as Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters (1979-1982), Rector of the ULB (1982-1986), and President of its Board of Directors (1986-1995). During his tenure, he transformed the university — restoring its financial health, overseeing the transfer of the Faculty of Medicine, renovating the Solbosch campus, and planting the seeds for a university campus in Charleroi.
Political Career
Parallel to his academic career, Hasquin was a founding member of the PRLW and later the PRL, the ancestor of today’s Mouvement Réformateur. He served as Vice-President of the francophone liberals (1986-1989), Secretary General of the party (1990-1992), and Senator (1988-1995).
As La Libre Belgique reported, he served as Brussels Regional Minister for Land Planning, Public Works and Transport (1995-1999) under Charles Picqué before becoming Minister-President of the French Community of Belgium from 1999 to 2004, leading a rainbow coalition of liberals, socialists, and greens.
Tributes from Across the Spectrum
Elisabeth Degryse, the current Minister-President of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, paid tribute to Hasquin’s exceptional career, noting: “Historian, faculty dean, rector then president of the board of directors of the ULB, not forgetting his commitment as perpetual secretary of the Royal Academy of Belgium, Hervé Hasquin leaves behind an exceptional career in the service of our higher education and public life.” She also highlighted his cultural legacy, particularly his role in acquiring the Théâtre des Doms in Avignon, which remains an important showcase for French Community artists.
Cultural Legacy
Hasquin’s cultural contributions were equally significant. He was instrumental in creating the Festival Théâtre au vert in Silly in 2002, a unique festival combining performing arts with rural life. Bernard Ligot of the festival said: “Beyond the statesman, the historian and the rector unanimously praised, the Théâtre au vert Festival today loses one of the architects of its history.” The festival, as DHnet reported, plans a special tribute during its opening night on 13 August.
Post-Political Service and Honors
After retiring from active politics, Hasquin chaired the Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (CECLR, now Unia) from 2008 to 2011, and served as Perpetual Secretary of the Royal Academy of Belgium from 2008 to 2017. His numerous honors include the Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown, the French Legion of Honour, and membership in the Royal Academy of Belgium.
A Legacy That Endures
Hervé Hasquin’s legacy is multifaceted — as a scholar who shaped Belgian historiography, a leader who modernized one of Europe’s great universities, a statesman who helped define modern francophone liberalism, and a patron of culture who brought the arts beyond urban centers. As the Festival Théâtre au vert concluded in its tribute: “We are losing a great man of culture, but also a deeply human, accessible and generous personality.”
A special tribute is planned for the 25th edition of the Festival Théâtre au vert on 13 August 2026, where his memory will be honored by the community he helped build.