**Almost three months ago, Sophie Wilmès (MR) announced in a press release that she was stepping down as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Her husband, Christopher Stone, an Australian from Tasmania, is seriously ill (with aggressive brain cancer).**
Faced with this tragic news, the former Prime Minister wanted to be able to devote herself to her family. “I want to be with him as he has always been with us and to fight this battle with him and our children. This is why, in full consultation with the Prime Minister and my party, I have taken the decision to put myself on immediate leave from my current ministerial duties, without compensation,” she explained.
Her competences in Foreign Affairs and European Affairs were then transferred to the Prime Minister, while her functions as MR Deputy Prime Minister within the Vivaldi were assumed by David Clarinval (also Minister for SMEs and the Self-Employed).
Finally, Mathieu Michel (MR), Secretary of State for Digitalisation, took over the files relating to federal cultural institutions during his absence.
**Her decision is taken**
Depending on the evolution of the medical situation of the person who shares her life, Sophie Wilmès also announced that she would re-examine her situation within the executive during the summer.
On Thursday 14 July, her decision was made: she left the De Croo government for good and became a federal deputy again. Note: she is not leaving politics completely. It is therefore not impossible that Sophie Wilmès, for example, will run in the 2024 elections. However, the question has not yet been raised.
After informing the Prime Minister on Thursday, Sophie Wilmès presented her resignation to King Philippe, who accepted it.
**”A difficult fight”**
“My husband’s illness will be a difficult battle that I want to fight alongside him and our children,” explained the liberal in a statement. My current duties in government would not allow me to do so. It is with emotion that I always think of those who are also fighting against the disease. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the many people, from all walks of life, who have shown and continue to show us their support on a daily basis. I would also like to thank the Prime Minister and my federal colleagues who have ensured the continuity of the work in my absence. To them, to the person who will take over and to the whole government, I wish success and perseverance in bringing to fruition the projects and reforms that our country so badly needs.
The name of her replacement in the executive is not yet known.
**Alexia Bertrand at Foreign Affairs?**
Several MR personalities are mentioned as her successor. Amongst others, the name of Alexia Bertrand is frequently mentioned. The current leader of the MR group in the Brussels parliament was, in the past, Didier Reynders’ chief of staff when he was head of Belgian diplomacy.
Valérie Glatigny, the Minister for Higher Education in the Franchophone Community, was also mentioned but, according to our information, this is a false lead. Faced with this rumour, Valérie Glatigny made it known within the MR that she was not considering succeeding Sophie Wilmès at Foreign Affairs.
David Clarinval, on the other hand, is expected to retain the position of MR Deputy Prime Minister in the federal executive.
**De Croo’s reaction: “A courageous choice”**
The Prime Minister wishes to warmly thank Sophie Wilmès “for her commitment to the Belgians and the dedication to our country that she has shown over the past years”.
“The choice Sophie Wilmès has made today is a courageous one. It is a choice that is worthy of the person she is, sincere. It is a choice that makes us all reflect on the meaning of life and reminds us of her priorities. On a more personal note, I salute a fellow colleague. Sophie is someone you can always count on, someone who never hides when it comes to taking responsibility. Our government has lost a great lady, but above all I want to say to Sophie that we are all, at this moment, at her side in the fight she is leading with Christopher.”
A hard but courageous choice. We like to bitch about them, but we must not forget that our politicians are humans too.
I think this is a loss for politics in this country.
Though I generally don’t agree with her party’s ideological tenet, a few things remain to be said about her efforts in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite being ridiculed for it, a single press conference and Powerpoint-presentation on live TV by her, contained more information than all of De Croo & Vandenbroucke’s combined.
Instead of constantly insisting that they had a very hard time deciding on measures to take, she actually communicated the most important information about them and attempted to explain why they were put in place.
Contrary to those two clowns that took over, Sophie Wilmès’ government was in no position to pursue individual ambitions and political agendas, and it showed. She managed to organize a short-term temporary crisis-government, established a sincere basis for communications with the people and did not cling to power when she was told to go.
Though I can’t speak for her actions under different circumstances, I think she deserves respect for sheer competence and humility demonstrated.
As a person, she seems willing to give up a lucrative career in politics to take care of her husband during trying times, which is, imho, testament to her priorities not being all about money and power.
I sincerely hope her husband’s situation changes for the better, and they can have a nice life together.
3 comments
**Almost three months ago, Sophie Wilmès (MR) announced in a press release that she was stepping down as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Her husband, Christopher Stone, an Australian from Tasmania, is seriously ill (with aggressive brain cancer).**
Faced with this tragic news, the former Prime Minister wanted to be able to devote herself to her family. “I want to be with him as he has always been with us and to fight this battle with him and our children. This is why, in full consultation with the Prime Minister and my party, I have taken the decision to put myself on immediate leave from my current ministerial duties, without compensation,” she explained.
Her competences in Foreign Affairs and European Affairs were then transferred to the Prime Minister, while her functions as MR Deputy Prime Minister within the Vivaldi were assumed by David Clarinval (also Minister for SMEs and the Self-Employed).
Finally, Mathieu Michel (MR), Secretary of State for Digitalisation, took over the files relating to federal cultural institutions during his absence.
**Her decision is taken**
Depending on the evolution of the medical situation of the person who shares her life, Sophie Wilmès also announced that she would re-examine her situation within the executive during the summer.
On Thursday 14 July, her decision was made: she left the De Croo government for good and became a federal deputy again. Note: she is not leaving politics completely. It is therefore not impossible that Sophie Wilmès, for example, will run in the 2024 elections. However, the question has not yet been raised.
After informing the Prime Minister on Thursday, Sophie Wilmès presented her resignation to King Philippe, who accepted it.
**”A difficult fight”**
“My husband’s illness will be a difficult battle that I want to fight alongside him and our children,” explained the liberal in a statement. My current duties in government would not allow me to do so. It is with emotion that I always think of those who are also fighting against the disease. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the many people, from all walks of life, who have shown and continue to show us their support on a daily basis. I would also like to thank the Prime Minister and my federal colleagues who have ensured the continuity of the work in my absence. To them, to the person who will take over and to the whole government, I wish success and perseverance in bringing to fruition the projects and reforms that our country so badly needs.
The name of her replacement in the executive is not yet known.
**Alexia Bertrand at Foreign Affairs?**
Several MR personalities are mentioned as her successor. Amongst others, the name of Alexia Bertrand is frequently mentioned. The current leader of the MR group in the Brussels parliament was, in the past, Didier Reynders’ chief of staff when he was head of Belgian diplomacy.
Valérie Glatigny, the Minister for Higher Education in the Franchophone Community, was also mentioned but, according to our information, this is a false lead. Faced with this rumour, Valérie Glatigny made it known within the MR that she was not considering succeeding Sophie Wilmès at Foreign Affairs.
David Clarinval, on the other hand, is expected to retain the position of MR Deputy Prime Minister in the federal executive.
**De Croo’s reaction: “A courageous choice”**
The Prime Minister wishes to warmly thank Sophie Wilmès “for her commitment to the Belgians and the dedication to our country that she has shown over the past years”.
“The choice Sophie Wilmès has made today is a courageous one. It is a choice that is worthy of the person she is, sincere. It is a choice that makes us all reflect on the meaning of life and reminds us of her priorities. On a more personal note, I salute a fellow colleague. Sophie is someone you can always count on, someone who never hides when it comes to taking responsibility. Our government has lost a great lady, but above all I want to say to Sophie that we are all, at this moment, at her side in the fight she is leading with Christopher.”
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
A hard but courageous choice. We like to bitch about them, but we must not forget that our politicians are humans too.
I think this is a loss for politics in this country.
Though I generally don’t agree with her party’s ideological tenet, a few things remain to be said about her efforts in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite being ridiculed for it, a single press conference and Powerpoint-presentation on live TV by her, contained more information than all of De Croo & Vandenbroucke’s combined.
Instead of constantly insisting that they had a very hard time deciding on measures to take, she actually communicated the most important information about them and attempted to explain why they were put in place.
Contrary to those two clowns that took over, Sophie Wilmès’ government was in no position to pursue individual ambitions and political agendas, and it showed. She managed to organize a short-term temporary crisis-government, established a sincere basis for communications with the people and did not cling to power when she was told to go.
Though I can’t speak for her actions under different circumstances, I think she deserves respect for sheer competence and humility demonstrated.
As a person, she seems willing to give up a lucrative career in politics to take care of her husband during trying times, which is, imho, testament to her priorities not being all about money and power.
I sincerely hope her husband’s situation changes for the better, and they can have a nice life together.
​
EDIT: typo