Gaston Eyskens

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The High-born Gaston Eyskens
Eyskens photographed in 1969
Prime Minister of Belgium
In office 17 June 1968 – 26 January 1973
Monarch	Baudouin
Preceded by	Paul Vanden Boeynants
Succeeded by	Edmond Leburton
In office 26 June 1958 – 25 April 1961
Monarch	Baudouin
Preceded by	Achille Van Acker
Succeeded by	Théo Lefèvre
In office 11 August 1949 – 8 June 1950
Monarch	Leopold III
Regent	Prince Charles
Preceded by	Paul-Henri Spaak
Succeeded by	Jean Duvieusart
Personal details
Born	(1905-04-01)1 April 1905 Lier, Belgium
Died	3 January 1988(1988-01-03) (aged 82) Leuven, Belgium
Political party	Christian Social Party
Spouse	Gilberte Depetter
Alma mater	Catholic University of Leuven Columbia University

Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens (1 April 1905 – 3 January 1988) was a Christian democratic politician and prime minister of Belgium.^[1] He was also an economist and member of the Belgian Christian Social Party (CVP-PSC).^[2]

He served three terms as the prime minister of Belgium, holding the position from 1949 to 1950, 1958 to 1961 and 1968 to 1973. During his periods in office, Eyskens was confronted with major ideological and linguistic conflicts within Belgium including the Royal Question in 1950, the School War in 1958, the independence of the Belgian Congo in 1960 and the split of the University of Leuven in 1970. He oversaw the first steps towards the federalization of Belgium (constitutional reform of 1970).