On 25 August, Eva De Bleeker was elected as new chair of ALDE Party member Open VLD in Belgium, succeeding Tom Ongena.

De Bleeker received over 55% of votes from Open VLD members in the second round of voting, prevailing over second-placed candidate Vincent Verbeecke, who received the remaining 45%.

“[I am] honoured and grateful for the trust you place in me. As party chair, I am not only turning a page, but we are writing a completely new liberal story. With you, for you and by you,” she said.

De Bleeker has been involved within the Belgian liberals for many years, standing for election to the Belgian Senate, European Parliament and Flemish Parliament.

In 2020, she was appointed State Secretary responsible for Budget and Consumer Protection in Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s government, a position she covered until 2022.

Last June, following the Belgian parliamentary elections, De Bleeker was elected as a Member of the Flemish Parliament for the Flemish Brabant constituency.

A former chair of Open VLD Women, she is also a graduate of The Alliance Of Her’s Class of 2017, ALDE Party’s programme to empower women in politics. 

Prime Minister De Croo was elected as the party’s First Vice-President after receiving most votes for the position.