Alexander De Croo is the incumbent Prime Minister of Belgium. Alexander De Croo, born on November 3, 1975, in Vilvoorde, Belgium. Belgium’s PM is married to Annik Penders, and they have 2 children. Alexander De Croo is the son of politician Herman De Croo and Françoise Desguin. Alexander De Croo earned a degree in Business Engineering from Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 1998 and completed an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2004. De Croo was a project leader at Boston Consulting Group before entering politics in 2006. He founded Darts-ip in 2006, a company serving intellectual property professionals.

Alexander De Croo, a political rookie, won almost 47,000 votes in the 2009 European elections. He declared his candidacy for Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD) president on October 26, seeking to succeed Guy Verhofstadt. De Croo fought Marino Keulen and Gwendolyn Rutten with Vincent Van Quickenborne and Patricia Ceysens. The political newcomer won the presidency on December 12 with 11,676 second-round votes versus Keulen’s 9,614. His triumph was astonishing, given his lack of political experience. 

What is the Political Party of Alexander De Croo?

The political party of Alexander De Croo is the Open Flemish Liberal and Democrats. De Croo started entering politics in 2009. Alexander De Croo runs as a candidate in the 2009 European elections. Alexander De Croo entered the race for the leadership of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD) on October 26, aiming to succeed the interim leader, Guy Verhofstadt. He joined forces with Vincent Van Quickenborne and Patricia Ceysens to compete against candidates Marino Keulen and Gwendolyn Rutten. De Croo emerged victorious, securing the presidency with 11,676 votes against Keulen’s 9,614 in a closely contested second round of voting on December 12. His election captured attention due to his relatively brief political career up to that point.

Alexander De Croo threatened to withdraw from the coalition government five months into his tenure as party leader. The Open VLD party followed through on such a threat, leaving the government after the set deadline, prompting Yves Leterme to resign. King Albert II sanctioned the decision on April 26, 2010. De Croo garnered nearly 301,000 votes in the 2010 Senate elections, marking him the third-highest vote-getter in a Dutch-speaking constituency, and he remained in office until October 22, 2012.

De Croo assumed the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Pensions in Di Rupo’s government on October 22, 2012, following Van Quickenborn’s resignation to become Mayor of Kortrijk. Gwendolyn Rutten assumed the presidency of his Open VLD in December.

Alexander De Croo remained Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecommunications, and Postal Services in Michel I’s government after the 2014 Belgian federal elections. His efforts included stopping official development funding to Burundi in 2015 owing to violent protests and offering €25 million to cure Sleeping Sickness in Africa by 2025. 

De Croo co-founded “She Decides” to protest US Mexico City policies. He became Minister of Finance after the N-VA withdrew from the UN’s Global Compact on Migration in the minority Michel II government. Belgian PM raised €780 million for women’s rights as #SheIsEqualAt the Global Citizen Festival Mandela 100 Concert in December 2018. He oversaw the Brussels airline bailout and coronavirus crisis financial stimulus under Sophie Wilmès. De Croo succeeded Wilmès as Prime Minister on September 30, 2020, leading Vivaldi, the Belgian government.

What is the Official Title of Alexander De Croo?

The official title of Alexander De Croo is that of the incumbent Prime Minister of Belgium. Alexander De Croo, a Belgian politician and businessman, has been Prime Minister of Belgium since October 2020. The Prime Minister of Belgium held various positions throughout his political career.   

Some of Alexander De Croo’s official titles are listed below.

• Leader of Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (Open VLD) (December 2009-October 2012: Alexander De Croo first entered politics in 2009 by participating in the European elections. He got over 47,000 votes. De Croo announced his candidacy for Open Flemish Liberal Democratic Party (Open VLD) leader on October 26, succeeding temporary leader Guy Verhofstadt.
• Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and Minister of Pensions (October 2012-October 2014): De Croo succeeded Van Quickenborn as Di Rupo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Pensions on 22 October 2012 after he resigned to become Kortrijk’s mayor. Gwendolyn Rutten became Open VLD president in December.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecommunications and Postal Services (October 2014-October 2020): Mr De Croo was named Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecommunications, and Postal Services, with Daniel Baclaine taking over as Minister of Pension. The administration took office on October 11, 2014. 
• Minister of Finance from (December 2018-October 2020): De Croo succeeded Johann van Overtveldt as Minister of Finance.
• Prime Minister of Belgium (October 2020-present): The King appointed Alexander De Croo and Paul Magnette (PS) to establish a government on September 23, 2020. It was declared on 30 September 2020 that De Croo was to succeed Wilmès as the prime minister of France.

What are the Important News about Alexander De Croo?

The important news about Alexander De Croo is listed below.

• Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and UN Environment Chief Erik Solheim signed a deal to collaborate on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2016. They discussed Belgium’s environmental priorities and the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Charter, emphasising the importance of partnerships, innovation, and a green economy for sustainable development. Belgium, a significant contributor to the UN Environment, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the 2030 Agenda, highlighting the importance of environmental management.
• Prime Minister Alexander De Croo met with representatives of Belgium’s Jewish community to discuss concerns following renewed violence in the Middle East. He expressed sympathy for the victims in Israel and condemned the violence, stating it impedes peace and security in the region. The meeting addressed the security of Jewish institutions in Belgium, with De Croo emphasising the country’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all citizens, including Jewish residents, and rejecting anti-Semitism and intolerance.
• Prime Minister Alexander De Croo attended the second Summit for Democracy 2023, hosted by US President Joe Biden, focusing on strengthening democratic institutions, combating corruption, and defending human rights globally. The summit addressed challenges to democracy, such as power abuse, electoral fraud, and censorship, highlighting their impact on human rights and civil liberties. The event gathered leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector to discuss solutions and strategies.
• Prime Minister Alexander De Croo reaffirmed Belgium’s support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom, emphasising the delivery of essential materials to assist in the ongoing conflict and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people and their sovereignty. Belgium has committed 8 million EUR to support the Ukrainian armed forces with non-lethal aid through NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund following a NATO summit decision. The aid includes first aid kits, winter clothing, and potentially other materials like night vision goggles, with Belgian companies eligible for public tenders. 
• Prime Minister Alexander De Croo welcomed the Brexit agreement announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, emphasising the need to protect Belgium’s economic interests and prevent unfair British competition. The Belgian PM highlighted the importance of the ‘Brexit Adjustment Reserve,’ a five billion euro support fund to aid the most affected countries and industries, and expressed gratitude towards Barnier and von der Leyen for their efforts. De Croo sees the agreement as a foundation for building a strong future relationship with the UK.

What are the Political Ideas of Alexander De Croo?

Alexander De Croo advocates for gender equality in the workplace and society through his book, emphasizing the liberation it brings to men as well as women. He champions women’s leadership in political and business spheres, proposing quotas for women in leadership roles to ensure gender balance. De Croo’s political ideas reflect a commitment to gender equality, which is essential for a balanced and fair society, and he actively supports initiatives like the She Decides movement to advance these goals.

Alexander De Croo expresses concern over foreign influences on Belgian democracy, highlighting China as a potentially hostile power. He reacts to allegations of Chinese espionage within Belgium, emphasising the importance of safeguarding democracy and the sensitivity of defence-related parliamentary committees. De Croo’s stance underscores the necessity of vigilance against attempts to destabilise or infiltrate democratic institutions, reflecting his broader political ideas focused on national security and the integrity of democratic processes.

Alexander De Croo, as the Belgian Prime Minister, has been active in European discussions, championing European integration. The Belgium President emphasised Europe as a solution, not a problem, in a 2021 address. He advocates for the EU’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund, Rule of Law, and energy security, supporting Eastern European countries against Russian aggression. His engagement in international and European matters fuels speculation about future roles in Europe. His immediate focus remains on leading Belgium’s Vivaldi coalition.