Yvan Verougstraete was elected as the new president of Les Engagés with 89.3% of the votes at a party convention in Namur on Sunday.
Verougstraete succeeded Maxime Prévot, who became Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, and was the sole candidate after the withdrawal of Marc-Antoine Mathijsen earlier this month.
According to party rules, Verougstraete’s term will last five years.
The new presidential team includes Camille Maitrejean, Mayor of Florenville, as Vice President for Political Reflection and Marie Jacqmin, Walloon Deputy, as Vice President for Citizen Action.
Vanessa Matz, currently a Federal Minister, will serve as Strategic Advisor to the presidency. Aurore Tourneur becomes General Delegate for Wallonia, Mounir Laarissi for Brussels, and Nicolas Dumont takes up the role of Chief of Staff.
“It’s a great honour, but above all, an enormous responsibility. With the trust of the citizens, we are committed to getting our country back on track by making crucial and ambitious decisions for the future. I am aware of the expectations and challenges. We must look ahead, speak truthfully, but above all, act justly. Only by building bridges, consulting, and bringing everyone along with us, can we achieve the necessary changes without leaving anyone behind,” Verougstraete said after his election was announced.
The convention also featured a standing ovation for the outgoing president, Maxime Prévot, who was recognised for his role in founding the movement and achieving strong electoral results last June.
