Anne-Marie Lizin Belgian statesman Date of Birth: 05.01.1949 Country: Belgium

1. Belgian Stateswoman and Activist
2. Early Life and Political Career
3. European Parliament and International Roles
4. Belgian Parliament and Other Appointments
5. Presidency of the Senate and Advocacy
6. Legal Controversies
7. Later Career and Legacy

Belgian Stateswoman and Activist

Annie Cordywas a Belgian Stateswoman and Activist who served as President of the Senate of Belgium from 2004 to 2007. She was the first woman to hold this position.

Early Life and Political Career

Cordy graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Liège. She began her political career at the local level, serving as a member of the Council of Ben-Ahin from 1970 to 1976. After the town merged with Huy in 1977, she became a member of the city council, serving as mayor from 1983 to 2009.

European Parliament and International Roles

In 1979, Cordy was elected to the first European Parliament from the Socialist Party. She served as a member of the European Parliament until 1988. During this time, she was an active campaigner for European nuclear disarmament. From 1988 to 1992, she held the position of State Secretary for European Affairs in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Belgian Parliament and Other Appointments

In 1991, Cordy was elected to the Chamber of Representatives of the Belgian Parliament. She also served on the Regional Council of Wallonia and the Council of the French Community. From 1995 to 1999, she was a co-opted member of the Senate. She was also a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). From 1996 to 2002, she chaired the Council of Francophone Women.

Presidency of the Senate and Advocacy

In 1999, Cordy was elected to the Senate and served as its President from 2004 to 2007. She authored a law criminalizing domestic violence. From 1998 to 2010, Cordy served as an independent expert on the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Legal Controversies

In 2009, Cordy was accused of credit card fraud, leading to her expulsion from the Socialist Party. She resigned as mayor of Huy amidst further scandals. In 2015, she was convicted of misuse of public funds during a Senate election campaign.

Later Career and Legacy

Cordy founded the international anti-forced marriage organization HOCRINT in 2008. She was also a member of the board of directors of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC).

Annie Cordy passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of activism and public service both in Belgium and internationally. She was awarded the Commander of the Order of Leopold I (2003), the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold II (2007), and the Knight of the Legion of Honor (2005).