Jean Materne
Jean Materne , born with Legs on July 22nd, 1889 and died in Jambes on June 21st, 1964, is a Belgian industrialist and a Walloon militant.
He succeeds his father with the head of a factory of jams, whose mark exists always at present. He engages in the liberal rows in spite of his catholic education at the Jésuites of Namur and meets François Bovesse. He will be burgomaster of Legs of 1934 with his death. In 1937 with the liberal inhabitant of Li2ege Jean Rey and the Carolorégien, Rene Dupriez, it calls in Namur the meeting of the liberal federations of Wallonia. They are opposed radically to any idea of amnesty for the collaborators of the Germans in 1914-1918. These federations also require the representations of the Walloon liberals to the Government. Meeting leaves creation the Walloon liberal Entente, placed under its presidency.
Jean Materne, in this opening speech opposes solemnly the Fédéralisme and the division of the country in two linguistic areas. The Walloon liberal Agreement was to stick with economic specificities of Wallonia, their study and the representation of Wallonia in unit Belgium. From 1938 to 1940 Jean Materne represents also Namur with the Walloon Assemblée.
In 1945, it assists with the Walloon National congress, becomes member of its Standing Committee, chair for the Province of Namur for the Walloon Economic council. It evolves clearly to the federalism but notes that the liberal Agreement that it created falls in lethargy. He resigns of his presidency and is replaced by Olympe Gilbart. He is elected provincial senator in 1954 and will remain it until 1963. At the beginning of this year he resigns of this station in favor of Michel All Saints' day.