Arya News - The Belgian prime minister has a new PR weapon to boost his popularity – a rescue cat named Maximus.
The Belgian prime minister has a new PR weapon to boost his popularity – a rescue cat named Maximus.
Bart De Wever’s grey feline has shot to social media stardom after pictures of its antics were posted online.
In fact less than six months after the cat’s account went live in July, it has gained tens of thousands of likes – far more than its owner.
The adventures of Mr De Wever’s four-legged friend come with a dose of salty commentary on Belgian politics.
Cartoon bubbles have captured the Scottish Fold cat musing sardonically on everything from the country’s long-running budget showdown to strikes over austerity measures or a new voluntary military service for young Belgians.
Since taking office in February, Mr De Wever has posted vignettes of himself with Maximus, pushing him in a stroller or taking a nap by his side in his office at 16 Rue de la Loi.
Maximus, who was rescued from a shelter in July, now enjoys a life of luxury courtesy of Bart De Wever
The 54-year-old also cross-posts with his cat when he wants to strike a lighter tone with the public.
In October Mr De Wever’s first response to the news of a foiled plot to attack him using drone-mounted explosives was a post showing the reclining cat with the cartoon caption “Maximus, can you catch a drone?”
“No – but I’m catching dreams like no one else!” the pet replies in the post.
Prof Dave Sinardet, a political analyst, said the account was a way for Mr De Wever to freshen up his public image and show he does not take himself too seriously.
“It’s a smart way to do political PR,” he said. “It makes politicians seem friendlier, gentler – considering that most people see them as rational, even arrogant figures.”
On the left: ‘Maximus, you have put on weight!’‘That is my winter coat! Catshaming!’
Deploying pets as political PR assets is nothing new – every American president in history, with the exception of Donald Trump , has posed with animals at the White House.
Larry the Downing Street cat is a global celebrity in his own right, with his @Number10cat account on X boasting almost 900,000 followers.
But Mr De Wever’s posts with Maximus are not to everyone’s liking.
A video of the prime minister pretending to play “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes – the pipe being Maximus’s tail – during tense budget talks had the opposition hissing.
“Quite the summary of their politics: noise and hot air,” snapped Patrick Prevot, a socialist MP.
Those in the know say the influencer’s @maximustp16 post’s are put up by the prime minister’s personal assistant.
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