Bart De Wever
Encyclopedia
Bart Albert Liliane De Wever (ˈbɑrt də ˈʋeːvər; born in Mortsel
, 21 December 1970) is a Belgian politician and since 2004 has been the president of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a Flemish party that strives for an independent Flanders
in a united Europe. He has also been a member of the Flemish parliament
since 2004. He played a prominent role in the 2007 Belgian government formation and led his party to victory in the 2010 Belgian federal elections
, after which the N-VA became the largest party in both Flanders and the whole of Belgium.
(KUL), graduating with a licentiate
(which is the equivalent of the master's degree
) in history. During his student years he was a member of the Liberaal Vlaams Studentenverbond (LVSV, Liberal Flemish Students' Union), the Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond (KVHV, Catholic Flemish Students' Union) of Antwerp and Leuven. He is also the former editor in chief of Tegenstroom (magazine of KVHV-Antwerp) and Ons Leven (magazine of KVHV-Leuven).
Professionally, he was engaged as a scientific assistant working on the 'Nieuwe Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging' (New Encyclopedia of the Flemish Movement), in which he wrote articles about Taal Aktiekomitee, Vlaams Blok and Vlaamse Militanten Orde (Flemish Militants Order), among other topics.
In 2004, he was elected as president of the N-VA with 95% of the votes. He was the only candidate.
De Wever went through a rough stretch in 2006 when he accepted conservative liberal Jean-Marie Dedecker
as an N-VA member, which caused a break-up with the CD&V. To make peace with this (much larger) party, Dedecker had to leave. Although he was criticised extensively, the local N-VA leaders reaffirmed their trust in De Wever, which allowed him to remain president.
In the regional elections of 2009
, his party won an unexpected 13% of the votes, making N-VA the winner of the elections together with old cartel partner CD&V
. N-VA subsequently joined the government, with De Wever choosing to remain party president and appointing two other party members as ministers in the Flemish Government
and one party member as speaker of the Flemish parliament
.
Under his presidency his party obtained a landslide victory of around 30% during federal elections held on 13 June 2010. De Wever himself won the most preference votes of the Dutch-speaking region (nearly 800,000).
He is also an admirer of the Irish conservative
philosopher Edmund Burke
, and his Burkean conservatism. His ideas are also influenced by British writer Theodore Dalrymple.
far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen
. De Wever explained his attendance by saying that "in a democracy, everyone should have the right to express his opinion, even if it's an opinion I detest. And I always prefer to get my information first hand than to get it in a filtered way."
In October 2007, in reaction to the apology of the Mayor of Antwerp for his city's collaboration in the deportation of Jews during World War II
, Bart De Wever said that :
He later apologized to Antwerp Jews. Following these events, in a tribune published in Le Monde
, the Belgian French-speaking writer Pierre Mertens
said that [Bart De Wever was] a "convinced negationist
leader". De Wever decided to sue Mertens in court for this allegation.
De Wever was present at the funeral of Holocaust negationist
Karel Dillen
in 2007 and of far-right political figure Marie-Rose Morel in 2011 (as well as plenty of other Flemish politicians both from conservative and progressive parties).
Mortsel
Mortsel is a city and municipality close to the city of Antwerp located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the city of Mortsel proper. On January 1, 2006 Mortsel had a total population of 24,427 people. The total area is 7.78 km² which gives a population density of...
, 21 December 1970) is a Belgian politician and since 2004 has been the president of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a Flemish party that strives for an independent Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
in a united Europe. He has also been a member of the Flemish parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
since 2004. He played a prominent role in the 2007 Belgian government formation and led his party to victory in the 2010 Belgian federal elections
Belgian general election, 2010
General elections were held in Belgium on 13 June 2010. After the fall of the previous government over the withdrawal of Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats from the government the King dissolved the legislature and called new elections...
, after which the N-VA became the largest party in both Flanders and the whole of Belgium.
Biography
De Wever attended the Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenKatholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
(KUL), graduating with a licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
(which is the equivalent of the master's degree
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts is a high academic degree offered at many universities in Europe and the United States.A Master of Arts, Magister Artium, or Magister in Artibus may also refer to:...
) in history. During his student years he was a member of the Liberaal Vlaams Studentenverbond (LVSV, Liberal Flemish Students' Union), the Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond (KVHV, Catholic Flemish Students' Union) of Antwerp and Leuven. He is also the former editor in chief of Tegenstroom (magazine of KVHV-Antwerp) and Ons Leven (magazine of KVHV-Leuven).
Professionally, he was engaged as a scientific assistant working on the 'Nieuwe Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging' (New Encyclopedia of the Flemish Movement), in which he wrote articles about Taal Aktiekomitee, Vlaams Blok and Vlaamse Militanten Orde (Flemish Militants Order), among other topics.
In 2004, he was elected as president of the N-VA with 95% of the votes. He was the only candidate.
De Wever went through a rough stretch in 2006 when he accepted conservative liberal Jean-Marie Dedecker
Jean-Marie Dedecker
Jean-Marie Louis Dedecker is a Belgian Flemish politician.In 1999 and 2003, Dedecker was directly elected to the Belgian Senate. In 2004 Dedecker ran for a seat in the Flemish Parliament, after taking his seat in the Flemish Parliament, Dedecker was elected by his colleagues as a community senator...
as an N-VA member, which caused a break-up with the CD&V. To make peace with this (much larger) party, Dedecker had to leave. Although he was criticised extensively, the local N-VA leaders reaffirmed their trust in De Wever, which allowed him to remain president.
In the regional elections of 2009
Belgian regional elections, 2009
Regional elections were held in Belgium on 7 June 2009 to choose representatives in the regional councils of Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels and the German-speaking Community of Belgium...
, his party won an unexpected 13% of the votes, making N-VA the winner of the elections together with old cartel partner CD&V
Christian Democratic and Flemish
The Christian Democratic and Flemish is a political party of Belgium, formerly called Christian People's Party...
. N-VA subsequently joined the government, with De Wever choosing to remain party president and appointing two other party members as ministers in the Flemish Government
Flemish government
The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
and one party member as speaker of the Flemish parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
.
Under his presidency his party obtained a landslide victory of around 30% during federal elections held on 13 June 2010. De Wever himself won the most preference votes of the Dutch-speaking region (nearly 800,000).
Political resumé
- Member of the district council of Berchem (1996-1997)
- Member of the Flemish Parliament. (2004-2007)
- President of the N-VA (2004- )
- Representative (2007- )
- Member of Antwerp municipal council (2007- )
Views
In 2008, while being interviewed on an early morning TV programme, he stated that: "I think that there is no French-speaking minority in Flanders; there are immigrants who have to adapt. We ask the Moroccans and the Turks to do that. We don't say to them 'There's a lot of you, so Arabic will become an official language.' That's crazy."He is also an admirer of the Irish conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
philosopher Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
, and his Burkean conservatism. His ideas are also influenced by British writer Theodore Dalrymple.
Controversies
In 1996, he was photographed attending a conference by the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen is a French far right-wing and nationalist politician who is founder and former president of the Front National party. Le Pen has run for the French presidency five times, most notably in 2002, when in a surprise upset he came second, polling more votes in the first round than...
. De Wever explained his attendance by saying that "in a democracy, everyone should have the right to express his opinion, even if it's an opinion I detest. And I always prefer to get my information first hand than to get it in a filtered way."
In October 2007, in reaction to the apology of the Mayor of Antwerp for his city's collaboration in the deportation of Jews during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Bart De Wever said that :
- "Antwerp did not organise the deportation of the Jews, it was the victim of Nazi occupation... Those who were in power at the time had to take tricky decisions in difficult times. I don't find it very courageous to stigmatise them now."
He later apologized to Antwerp Jews. Following these events, in a tribune published in Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
, the Belgian French-speaking writer Pierre Mertens
Pierre Mertens
Pierre Mertens is a Belgian French-speaking writer and lawyer who specializes in international law, director of the Centre de sociologie de la littérature at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, and literary critic with the newspaper Le Soir.Influenced by Franz Kafka, Mertens started to publish...
said that [Bart De Wever was] a "convinced negationist
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
leader". De Wever decided to sue Mertens in court for this allegation.
De Wever was present at the funeral of Holocaust negationist
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is the act of denying the genocide of Jews in World War II, usually referred to as the Holocaust. The key claims of Holocaust denial are: the German Nazi government had no official policy or intention of exterminating Jews, Nazi authorities did not use extermination camps and gas...
Karel Dillen
Karel Dillen
Karel Cornelia Constentijn Dillen was a Flemish politician and a Flemish nationalist. In 1977 he established the Vlaams Nationale Partij , which became Vlaams Blok at the elections of 1978...
in 2007 and of far-right political figure Marie-Rose Morel in 2011 (as well as plenty of other Flemish politicians both from conservative and progressive parties).