Valerie Van Peel with 96 percent elected N-VA chairman
The members of N-VA have voted Valerie van Peel (45) with an overwhelming majority as a new chairman. She was the only candidate to succeed Bart De Wever. De Wever led the party for more than twenty years, but passed the baton when he became prime minister at the beginning of February. Van Peel received 96.26 percent of the votes cast.
About half of the N-VA members (14,486) cast their vote. « Great support brings great responsibility, » says Van Peel in a press release. « I am ready to record it-first and foremost for our party, but also for all Flemish people. It is my job to keep the story of the N-VA sharp, to further expand our party, and to attract new talent from all corners of Flanders. »
Van Peel started her career as a journalist. In 2009 she became party spokesperson for the N-VA. She was a municipal councilor and OCMW chairman in Kapellen from 2013 to 2019, from 2014 to 2024 Member of Parliament and from 2021 to 2022 vice-chairman of the party. Last year she left politics following her fight around asbestos victims. She had submitted a bill on this in parliament, but was not approved by the opposition. Frustrated about the « rigidity » of politics, she then announced her farewell.
Now she returns to politics. As an explanation, she said in last week Sunday: « After a few months in the background that were needed and delighted, I felt that urge to be a voice in the debate, to have an impact. »
Van Peel wants to turn the internal operation of the party into its « first priority ». « I will talk to all our members, from Voeren to De Panne. Because although I am the new chairman, this work that we have to and will do together, » it sounds.
The designation of a new chairman was a first step in the board elections within the party. A general secretary, two vice -chairmen and fifteen party board members will be designated on the next party council of 24 May. And at the meeting of 14 June, the party council finally prefers a treasurer from its own members.
