Tindemans, Leo (1922– )

Belgian politician. A regular holder of cabinet posts from 1968, he led the government from 1974 to 1978, and was appointed chair of the Christian People's Party (CVP) in 1979. A prominent role-player in the European Community, he was president of the Group of the European People's Party from 1992, and in 1993 was the first holder of the Jacques Delors chair in Maastricht.

Tindemans studied economics and social sciences at Antwerp, Ghent, and Louvain universities. In 1958 he became secretary to the CVP, entering parliament for Antwerp in 1961.