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
ConstituencyAntwerp
In office
20 June 2019 – 1 November 2020
Succeeded byGitta Vanpeborgh
ConstituencyAntwerp
Member of the Flemish Parliament
In office
17 June 2014 – 25 May 2019
ConstituencyAntwerp
Personal details
Born (1968-11-21) 21 November 1968 (age 55)
Herentals, Belgium
Political partyVooruit
Alma materKU 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]

Electoral history of Jan Bertels
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

References

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  1. ^ a b "De Kamerleden: Jan Bertels" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Chamber of Representatives. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Volksvertegenwoordigers: Gewezen Vlaamse volksvertegenwoordigers - Jan Bertels" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jan Bertelsnaar het Vlaams Parlement" (PDF). Spots (in Dutch). Vol. 12. Herentals, Belgium: Socialist Party Different Herentals. March 2014. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Kamerlid Jan Bertels kabinetschef gezondheidszorg minister Vandenbroucke". De Specialist (in Dutch). Kraainem, Belgium. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 8 oktober 2006" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Government. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 14 oktober 2012" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Government. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  7. ^ Otten, Hans (17 May 2023). "Jan Bertels lanceert zichzelf als kandidaat-burgemeester" (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Jan Bertels in sneltempo klaargestoomd voor burgemeester". RTV (in Dutch). Antwerp, Belgium. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Lokale verkiezingen 2018: Herentals - Verkozen kandidaten". Vlaanderen kiest (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Government. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Jan Bertels wil opnieuw burgemeester van Herentals worden". RTV (in Dutch). Antwerp, Belgium. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Resultaat Vlaams Parlement 7 juni 2009 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Resultaat Vlaams Parlement 25 mei 2014 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Eerste Vlaams mandaat voor Jan Bertels". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Resultaat Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers 26 mei 2019 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Herentalsenaar Jan Bertels wordt kabinetschef bij minister Frank Vandenbroucke". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020.
  16. ^ "DOC 55 0001/015 Lijst van de Kamerleden en van Hun Opvolgers" (PDF) (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Chamber of Representatives. 24 October 2023. p. 4. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Resultaat Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers 9 juni 2024 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Oud-burgemeester Jan Bertels keert terug naar de Kamer". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. 9 June 2024. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.