Prime Minister Michel assigns the ministries vacated by the N-VA party

Prime Minister Charles Michel redistributed ministerial powers after the departure of the N-VA party from the federal coalition. Deputy Prime Minister Vold Alexander De Croo becomes Minister of Finance, Pieter De Crem (CD & V) becomes Minister of the Interior and Maggie De Block (Open Vld) Minister of Asylum and Migration. Deputy Prime Minister MR Didier Reynders adds Defense to Foreign Affairs.

The distribution was fixed by royal decree after the Prime Minister opened it to King Philippe. In order to guarantee parity within the federal government, Charles Michel no longer appears on the francophone quota; Secretaries of State Pieter De Crem (CD & V) and Philippe De Backer (Open Vld) are promoted to ministers.

Pieter De Crem inherited the Interior and Security, which were managed by Jan Jambon. Philippe De Backer retains the fight against social fraud and the North Sea, and takes the Digital Agenda, Telecoms and Post from Flemish Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, as well as the Administrative Simplification, by Theo Francken (N -GO).

 

 

Maggie De Block (Open Vld) remains Minister of Social Affairs and Health, to which she adds the Asylum and Migration – which she had managed in the previous legislature – after the departure of Theo Francken.

Alexander De Croo remains the Deputy Prime Minister (Open Vld) becomes Minister of Finance replacing Johan Van Overtveldt. He is also in charge of International Development.

Deputy Prime Minister CD & V Kris Peeters remains Minister of the Economy, Employment, Consumers and Foreign Trade. He will also manage the fight against poverty, equal opportunities and people with disabilities, skills inherited from Zuhal Demir.

 

Un #begov opérationnel, en situation de relever les défis prioritaires :
▶️ pouvoir d'achat, dév. éco et social, soutien aux investissements,…
▶️ sécurité & justice
▶️ focus sur politque climatique@peeters_kris1 @alexanderdecroo @dreynders pic.twitter.com/GbSSqWCFca

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) December 9, 2018

 

Budget Minister Sophie Wilmès will also be Minister of Science Policy, which she takes over from Zuhal Demir, and the Public Service, which had just passed from Steven Vandeput to Sander Loones. The other portfolio passed from Steven Vandeput to Sander Loones, Defense, falls to Deputy Prime Minister (MR) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders. He remains in charge of European Affairs, Beliris and federal cultural institutions.

Denis Ducarme (MR) remains Minister of the Middle Classes, Independents, SMEs, Agriculture and Social Integration; he takes back the Big Cities from Zuhal Demir. Finally, Koen Geens (CD & V) retains Justice and takes over the Régie des bâtiments from Jan Jambon. The other ministers retain their positions.