Nicole de Moor appointed head of deputy PM Vincent Van Peteghem’s cabinet
Nicole de Moor is stepping down as a member of the Flemish Parliament, she announced on Tuesday. The former secretary of state will become director of general policy to deputy prime minister Vincent Van Peteghem.
De Moor served as secretary of state for Asylum and Migration during the previous legislature. Alongside Van Peteghem, she played a key role in the negotiations for the current federal coalition agreement. That did not result in a ministerial position. As a member of the Flemish Parliament, she focused on foreign policy and civic integration.
"In recent years, I have been involved in politics both in front of and behind the scenes," De Moor said. "It therefore feels very natural to help oversee this coalition agreement in the coming years from a new position as director of general policy."
Van Peteghem, who holds the portfolios of Budget and Administrative Simplification, described de Moor as an "intelligent woman who, as secretary of state, member of parliament and chief of staff, always had the ambition to get things moving. She is strong on substance, principled where necessary and always driven by responsibility. That combination makes her a particularly reliable and decisive colleague."
UNHCR candidate
Last year, de Moor also made an unsuccessful bid for the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Her candidacy was supported by the European People's Party (EPP), as well as the Belgian federal government. Ultimately, former Iraqi president Barham Salih became the head of the agency.
De Moor's candidacy prompted international criticism, due to her record as secretary of state. In 2023, she announced that Fedasil would refuse single male asylum seekers. That policy led thousands of convictions against the Belgian state for violating their right to reception. Despite the rulings, de Moor maintained her stance and refused to pay the resulting penalties.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
Related news
