He cofounded in 1964 with François Perin the (PWT) and the Parti Wallon in 1965. Then, in 1968, they both split to form the Parti wallon, and Gol was elected on a larger regionalist ticket, the
Rassemblement Wallon (Walloon Rally), a few weeks later for the
1968 Belgian general election on 31 March 1968.
Public offices In 1974, he was ''Secrétaire d'État à l'Economie régionale wallonne
in the government Tindemans II. In 1976, he was one of the co-founders of the Parti des Réformes et des Libertés de Wallonie
(PRLW), a merger of the liberal Walloon PLP
, and some dissidents of the Rassemblement Wallon''. During the governments
Martens V-VII, of 17 December 1981 up to 9 May 1988, he was: vice-premier, minister of justice and institutional reform. From 6 January 1985, up to 28 November 1985, Jean Gol replaced
Willy De Clercq on the department of foreign trade. In June 1994, he was elected a member of the
European Parliament, and in addition was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 1995.
Leadership within Francophone circles Over a long period he was noted for his ability to empathize with local Walloon and Liégeois leaders from diverse political backgrounds, including with veteran
Walloon Socialist
André Cools; out of these efforts emerged what became known as the 'Colonster' group, which partly proved to be the catalyst for a strengthening of collective Francophone responses by way of counterweight to the increasing influence of
Flemish-based parties in Belgium. In May 1992, he became president of the
PRL, and in 1993, he was one of the architects of the
PRL-FDF Federation, in collaboration with
Antoinette Spaak.
Contribution to political theory He re-defined the doctrine of
social liberalism, which he had already worked on in 1976. Jean Gol has voiced his support for
Rattachism. ==Death==