The Flemish Movement is an umbrella term which encompasses various political groups in the Belgian region of Flanders and,less commonly,in French Flanders. Ideologically,it encompasses groups which have sought to promote Flemish culture and the Dutch language as well as those seeking greater political autonomy for Flanders within Belgium. It also encompassed nationalists who seek the secession of Flanders from Belgium,either through outright independence or unification with the Netherlands.
Bartolomeus Jozef Lodewijk Rosalia "Bart" Somers is a Belgian,Flemish politician. He is currently the mayor of Mechelen. In 2017,Bart Somers was awarded 2016 World Mayor Prize as recognition for his outstanding achievements in welcoming refugees during recent years and for the long-term integration of immigrants from different cultures,religions and social backgrounds. He obtained a law degree from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
Hugo F.V. Coveliers is a retired Belgian politician and lawyer. He was a member of the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives between 1985 and 1995,and from 1993 to 2003. Since 2003,he has been a member of the Belgian Senate. He was a parliamentary chairman for the VLD in both chambers,from 1999 to 2003.
The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region of Belgium. It consists of a government cabinet,headed by the Minister-President and accountable to the Flemish Parliament,and the public administration divided into 13 policy areas,each with an executive department and multiple agencies.
Geert Albert Bourgeois is a Belgian politician of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA),which he founded in 2001,who is currently serving as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. He previously served as the Minister-President of Flanders from 2014 to 2019. Prior to this,he was a member of the federal Chamber of Representatives for the People's Union from 1995 to 2001,and then for the N-VA from 2001 to 2004. He has been involved in local and regional politics in Flanders since 1976.
Karim Van Overmeire is a Flemish politician,author,city planner and member of the New Flemish Alliance party.
The Boerentoren is a historic high-rise building in Antwerp,Belgium. Constructed between 1929 and 1932 and originally 87.5 m (287 ft) high,it remained the tallest building and the second-tallest structure in the city until 2019,when the Antwerp Tower surpassed it with a height of 100.7 m (330 ft). At the time of construction,it was the second tallest building in Europe by roof height.
Bart Albert Liliane De Wever is a Belgian politician. Since 2004,De Wever has been the leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA),a political party advocating for the independence of Flanders. He is also a member of the Chamber of Representatives. De Wever presided over his party's victory in the 2010 federal elections when N-VA became the largest party in both Flanders and in Belgium as a whole.
Eric Defoort was a Flemish Belgian politician and president of the European Free Alliance.
Matthias Diependaele is a Belgian politician affiliated to the N-VA who is the current Minister for Finance,Budget,Housing and Immovable Heritage in the Flemish Government. He previously served as a member of the Flemish Parliament between 2009 and 2019.
Theo Francken is a Belgian politician who has been a member of the Chamber of Representatives since 2010. He is a member of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA),a conservative Flemish nationalist party.
Ben Weyts is a Belgian politician of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). He has been a Vice Minister-President of Flanders in the Jambon Government since 2019,and serves as the Flemish minister for Animal Welfare,the Brussels Periphery,Education,and Sport. He previously served in the Homans and Bourgeois governments from 2014 to 2019. He was a member of the Chamber of Representatives from 2008 to 2014.
Federal elections were held in Belgium on 26 May 2019,alongside the country's European and regional elections. All 150 members of the Chamber of Representatives were elected from eleven multi-member constituencies.
The Michel II Government was the Federal Government of Belgium,led by Prime Minister Charles Michel from 18 December 2018 until 27 October 2019 when it was succeeded by the Wilmès I Government. It was a centre minority coalition cabinet of Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V),the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats and the Reformist Movement (MR). On 26 October 2019,it was announced that Sophie Wilmès would take over the role of Prime Minister from Michel on 1 November 2019,and form a new government.
Events of the year 2019 in Belgium.
The Jambon Government (Regering-Jambon) is the Flemish Government formed and sworn in on 2 October 2019,following the 2019 Belgian regional elections and replacing the interim Homans Government.
Sihame El Kaouakibi is a Belgian politician and the founder of the Let's Go Urban project. In 2021,she was accused of fraudulent use of government subsidies. Almost 1 million euro is claimed to have been used for her own profit.
Jan Spooren is a Belgian politician active for the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and the current governor of Flemish Brabant.
Manuela Van Werde is a Belgian actress,television presenter and politician from Flanders.
The right to vote in Belgium belongs to all adult Belgians. EU citizens can vote in European and municipal elections. Other foreigners have local voting rights when they have lived in the country for more than five years. Attendance is compulsory for Belgians in Belgium.
