After the Nazi invasion of Belgium in 1940, the Karny family and their stepsons took refuge in England, via France, Algeria, Morocco and Portugal.
Stanislas Gol enlisted in the Belgian Army in the United Kingdom, and Léa gave birth to Jean in exile.
In 1974, he was Secrétaire d'État à l'Economie régionale wallonne in the government Tindemans II.
From 6 January 1985, up to 28 November 1985, Jean Gol replaced Willy De Clercq on the department of foreign trade.
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.