After almost eight months of negotiations, Belgium has dawned with a new federal government led by a “political beast“.
Bart De Wever lives and breathes politics, he said in a recently aired documentary about him. Since 2002 De Wever decided to devote himself to politics, he became one of the most beloved and at the same time the most hated politicians in Belgium.
Who is Bart De Wever?
Long-time mayor of Antwerp, leader of the Flemish nationalist party N-VA, brilliant orator, historian with a strong bias towards Roman history and Latin, uncompromisingly strong personality and intellectual, categorical opponent of the offensive “wok“ culture.
The general public got to know Bart De Wever in 2008, when he participated in the popular television show “The Smartest Man in the World“. His witty and sometimes sarcastic reactions then appealed to many viewers. He did not hesitate to use their electoral favor in the next elections. At the time, De Wever had been party chairman for several years, but his New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) was not yet a major player in politics.
20 years ago
The radical Flemish nationalist
drove a dozen trucks full of counterfeit money to Wallonia to show that “his” Flanders was throwing too much money at the poorer French-speaking region.
Today, 20 years after that provocative act, De Wever takes over from Alexander De Cro (Open VLD) to become the international face of Belgium. His political opponents do not expect him to be the figurehead of a united Belgium.
Despite its more moderate tone in recent years, the Flemish nationalist party N-VA still seeks an independent Flanders. For most politicians, appointing a Flemish nationalist as leader of the country it previously wanted to divide is a controversial move. "The N-VA is willing to take on federal responsibility and lead the next Belgian government if what is needed is really done," De Wever said. "I am ready to become prime minister if there is progress on reforms for the Communities and if further development of the autonomy of Flanders is not taboo." In the French-speaking part of Belgium, there is considerable caution about choosing De Wever as prime minister. Les Engages leader Maxime Prevost said he was not against De Wever as a person and hoped that the new prime minister would respect the entire population of his country.
Today, almost all of his opponents comment that they deeply respect De Wever for his intellect and brilliant debating skills. They share that he can be “cold as ice“ when necessary, and never deviates from his conservative ideology.
Bart De Wever clearly emphasized that although he is ready to “lead the country”, he has no intention of “sitting powerless like the next captain of the Titanic”.
Brilliant political figures are emerging on the world political scene. So far, we have witnessed behind-the-scenes directing of a game with weak actors. Political clowns are leaving the podium to make way for real titans.
More facts about Bart De Weber
Born on December 21, 1970 in Mortsel, Antwerp.
Married, father of 4 children.
His grandfather was a member of the Flemish National Association (VNV), which collaborated with the German Nazi regime before and during World War II.
At the beginning of his career, he weighed 142 kg. In 2012, he started a strict diet under medical supervision and lost 58 kg.
As a student, he first studied law for two years at the University of Antwerp. He then transferred to the University of Leuven, where he graduated in history. In both cities, he joined Flemish nationalist student clubs and became editor-in-chief of their student magazines.
Since 2004, De Wever has been party leader of the Flemish nationalist and conservative New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). At the time, the organization was a small party with only one federal MP. In the two decades since he took office, it has become the largest political force in the country.
In 2007, De Wever caused controversy after the Flemish far-right party Vlaams Belang published a 1996 photo of him standing next to Jean-Marie Le Pen of the French far-right National Front on the occasion of a lecture for the Flemish National Debating Club in Antwerp. De Wever explained that he had attended the debate immediately after his studies. He saw it as "a unique opportunity to hear Le Pen, who was an important figure in French politics at the time". However, he said the debate was "uninteresting" and called Le Pen "a showman... who has no answers for anything". He also commented that he has no connection with the far right.
The N-VA chairman is also waging war on "wok" culture, a form of hyper-correct thinking that he says threatens society. "It's a revenge movement against everything Western countries have ever done," he said. "It's a war of self-destruction by the intellectual elite."