Former Walloon Minister and Socialist Party member Paul Furlan died on Monday at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer, Belgian media report.
Born in Binche, a city in Hainaut province, in 1962, Furlan served as part of the Walloon Government from 2009 to 2017. He was forced to resign as Minister of Local Government and City Policy after becoming embroiled in the Publifin corruption scandal, whereby numerous Walloon Government officials were alleged to have received thousands of euros in illicit funds from Publifin (now called Enodia), a government-run electricity distributor.
Known for his love of good food and extreme sports, Furlan also served as mayor of Thuin, another city in Haunaut province, from 2000 to 2009 and 2012 to 2020.
"Paul was an exceptional friend, always attentive, delicate, generous," Socialist Party President Paul Magnette wrote on Twitter on Monday morning. "A huge worker, devoted without limit to Thuin, Wallonia, Charleroi metropolis. A great companion for campaigns, struggles and parties. A loved one, rare, who aroused sympathy wherever he passed. We will miss you a lot."
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Magnette's words were echoed by Walloon Government Vice-President Christie Morreale: "We knew that it was inevitable, the fact remains that the announcement is chilling and saddening. Cancer has gotten the better of this great defender of local authorities and his thirst for life."
The Young Socialists of Charleroi and Thuin similarly paid tribute to Furlan's "huge heart and committed passion", adding: "Furlan marked the Walloon political scene by advocating solidarity and social justice."
Furlan is survived by two young daughters.
