Bart De Wever

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Bart Albert Liliane De Wever (°Mortsel, 21 December 1970). is a Flemish politician and since 2004 the president of the N-VA, a Flemish party that strives for an independent Flanders. He is also member of the Flemish parliament since 2004. He currently plays a prominent role in the 2007 Belgian government formation.

[edit] Biography

De Wever finished his studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL, Catholic University of Louvain) as a master in history. During his years as a student, 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 Louvain. He is also the former editor in chief of Tegenstroom (magazine of KVHV-Antwerp) and Ons Leven (magazine of KVHV-Louvain). 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 a.o about the Taal Aktiekomitee, the Vlaams Blok and the Vlaamse Militanten Orde (Flemish Militants Order).

De Wever is seen as a conservative with a moderate right-wing image. He is also an admirer of the Irish conservative philosopher Edmund Burke, and his Burkean conservatism.

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 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.

De Wever has repeatedly been the target of slander campaigns. An example is the article published in Le Vif/L'Express (a Walloon magazine), in which details about the life of his unemployed sister are revealed.

[edit] Political resumé

  • Member of the Flemish Parliament. (2004-2007)
  • Representative (2007- )
  • Member of the district council of Berchem (1996-1997)
  • President of the N-VA (2004- )
  • municipal council member of Antwerp (2007- )