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Jan Bertels (born 21 November 1968) is a Belgian politician and member of the Chamber of Representatives.[1] A member of Vooruit, he has represented Antwerp since June 2024. He had previously been a member of the Chamber of Representatives from June 2019 to November 2020. He was a member of the Flemish Parliament from June 2014 to May 2019.[2]
Jan Bertels | |
|---|---|
 Bertels in February 2019 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 9 June 2024 | |
| Constituency | Antwerp |
| In office 20 June 2019 – 1 November 2020 | |
| Succeeded by | Gitta Vanpeborgh |
| Constituency | Antwerp |
| Member of the Flemish Parliament | |
| In office 17 June 2014 – 25 May 2019 | |
| Constituency | Antwerp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 November 1968 Herentals, Belgium |
| Political party | Vooruit |
| Alma mater | KU Leuven |
Bertels was born on 21 November 1968 in Herentals.[1][2] He grew up in Herentals and Olen and followed the Latin-Greek stream at college in Herentals.[3] He studied law at KU Leuven, specialising in Belgian and European social security.[3] He was an assistant at KU Leuven before working as a social security advisor to Socialist Party Different (SP.A) federal government ministers Jan Peeters and Johan Vande Lanotte.[3][4] In 2003 he became director general of the Federal Public Service Social Security.[3][4]
Bertels was appointed to the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) in Olen in 1995.[3] He was appointed to the OCMW in Herentals in 2001.[3] He was elected to the municipal council in Herentals at the 2006 local election.[5] He became schepen (alderman) for finance and youth in 2007.[3] He was re-elected at the 2012 local election.[6] He became mayor of Herentals in January 2017 following the resignation of Jan Peeters.[7][8] He was re-elected at the 2018 local election but lost the mayor-ship after the right wing New Flemish Alliance took control of the municipal council.[9][10]
Bertels contested the 2009 regional election as the SP.A's 23rd placed candidate in Antwerp but was not elected.[11] He was elected to the Flemish Parliament at the 2014 regional election.[12][13] He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2019 federal election.[14] He resigned from the Chamber of Representatives in November 2020 to become chief of staff to SP.A federal government minister Frank Vandenbroucke.[15][16] He was re-elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2024 federal election.[17][18]
Bertels is married and has two children.[3] The family have lived in Noorderwijk since 2000.[3]
| Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 local[5] | Herentals | Socialist Party Different | 448 | Elected | |
| 2009 regional[11] | Antwerp | Socialist Party Different | 1,852 | Not elected | |
| 2012 local[6] | Herentals | Socialist Party Different | 680 | Elected | |
| 2014 regional[12] | Antwerp | Socialist Party Different | 7,525 | Elected | |
| 2018 local[9] | Herentals | Socialist Party Different | 2,613 | Elected | |
| 2019 federal[14] | Antwerp | Socialist Party Different | 9,995 | Elected | |
| 2024 federal[17] | Antwerp | Vooruit | 7,732 | Elected | |
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