There are few people who know the engine room and internal kitchen of the N-VA as thoroughly as Ben Weyts. The 53-year-old with a degree in political science (Ghent University) – like many N-VA members – starts his political career at the People’s Union. In the period 1999-2000 he worked as a university employee of the VU faction in the House.
At a time when the Volksunie was arguing internally about the course to be followed (2000-2001), Weyts was party spokesperson. He experiences the fragmentation and end of the People’s Union from the front row. When the VU disbanded, Weyts followed the Flemish-national wing of Geert Bourgeois and not the ‘Future Group’ around Bert Anciaux or the ‘Niet Splitsen’ group around Johan Sauwens and Nelly Maes.
The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) is founded from the smoldering ashes of the People’s Union. Weyts was one of the founders of the birth of the new party. He also becomes the first party spokesperson between 2001 and 2004. Between 2002-2004 he is also head of the political secretariat. These are the ‘lean years’ of the party. It’s a fight for survival. In the 2003 federal elections, the party barely survived with one elected official, namely Geert Bourgeois.
But the party’s steep rise began in 2004. The turning point is the Valentine’s Day agreement between Yves Leterme (CD&V) and Geert Bourgeois (N-VA). N-VA forms a cartel with CD&V and the ‘Flemish cartel’ convincingly wins the elections and pushes Open VLD out of Martelaarsplein again.
Spokesperson and Chief of Cabinet
Geert Bourgeois becomes minister in the Flemish government led by Yves Leterme and Ben Weyts becomes Bourgeois’ spokesperson and subsequently also chief of staff. Bourgeois and Weyts have been an inseparable duo for years.
In 2009, Weyts ended up in Parliament as successor to Herman Van Rompuy, who at that time became chairman of the European Council. The CD&V-N-VA cartel may have fallen apart in 2008, but the list agreements made in 2007 landed Weyts in Parliament.
In 2010, Weyts was elected to Parliament on his own merit and from an N-VA list. There he plays his role as a community hardliner with great dedication. Experienced in the Flemish outskirts, Weyts knows Flemish-national sensitivities and community dossiers such as Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde like the back of his hand. His tough attitude and community intransigence have earned him the nickname ‘Ben Laden’ among French speakers.
Successor De Wever?
On March 19, 2011, Weyts also became vice-chairman of the N-VA. Afterwards, his name also appeared a few times as the ideal successor to chairman Bart De Wever. But look, we are almost 15 years later and De Wever still keeps a tight grip on the party reins.
In the elections of May 25, 2014, Weyts won a seat in the Flemish Parliament as party leader in Flemish Brabant. His years of loyal service to the party are rewarded with a ministerial position in the Bourgeois government. Weyts will be responsible for Mobility, Public Works, Tourism, Animal Welfare and Vlaamse Rand.
Weyts thus becomes the first full Minister of Animal Welfare. Although the Animal Welfare chapter in the coalition agreement remains very short, Weyts squeezes every drop out of the new authority, a authority that he also retains in the Jambon government.
Minister of Education
In the Jambon government, Weyts was not only ‘promoted’ to Deputy Prime Minister, in addition to Animal Welfare, he was also responsible for Sports, Vlaamse Rand and Education. That education has been in quite turbulent waters in recent years. Not only was there the corona crisis and the battle with Catholic Education Flanders regarding the final objectives/minimum goals, there was also the discussion about the declining quality of education and the problem of the acute teacher shortage.
Weyts is known as a master communicator. He knows his way to the media and knows how to choose his moments. Yet the Flemish Brabander occasionally ends up in a media storm. For example, in October 2014, left-wing groups urged his resignation after he and his federal party colleague Theo Francken attended the 90th birthday of Bob Maes, ex-member of the collaborationist VNV and founder of the Flemish Militants Organization (VMO). During the last legislature, the N-VA minister was criticized again when he walked into a classroom wearing his underwear.
Weyts wants to make another bid for the sash in Beersel in the local elections of October 2024. A previous attempt in 2018 failed. His party lost one seat, but still joined the local government.
In recent months, Weyts was part of the Flemish N-VA negotiating team. From now on, he must leave education to fellow party member Zuhal Demir, but he will remain deputy prime minister. In addition, he will oversee the Budget for the next five years and will be responsible for the Flemish Rand, Immovable Heritage and Animal Welfare.
 remains deputy prime minister in the new Flemish government){kind=link}