Maggie De Block

Maggie Celine Louise De Block, (born 28 April 1962) is a Belgian politician and member of the Flemish liberal party Open Vld. In 2013 and 2014, she was voted the most popular politician in Flanders. In February 2015, she was voted the most popular politician in Belgium, being the most popular in all three regions. She holds the portfolio of Minister of Social Affairs and Health in the Michel Government. She has received a lot of negative publicity regarding her obesity.

De Block was born in Merchtem. She studied medicine at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) after which she became a general practitioner for 25 years. Her brother, Eddie De Block, is the mayor of Merchtem.

From 1999 to 2011 Maggie De Block was a Member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the electoral district Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde.

She became the Secretary of State for Asylum, Immigration and Social Integration in the Di Rupo Government in December 2011. In December 2012, she became the vice-chair of the Open Vld party. She later became Minister of Justice charged with Asylum, Immigration, Social Integration and Poverty Reduction in the Di Rupo Government in July 2014.

In March 2013, she was voted woman of the year by readers of the francophone newspaper La Libre Belgique. In 2013 and 2014 polls, she became the most popular Flemish politician, ahead of the Minister-President of Flanders Kris Peeters.

In the Michel Government formed in October 2014, she became Minister of Social Affairs and Health. When taking the oath, she described the portfolio as "her dream". Critics have said that she does not set the right example as Health Minister due to her obesity, and she has answered that "I know I'm not a model but you have to see what's inside, not the packaging". In the position, she was involved in coordinating the Belgian response to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.

In 2015, she became the most popular politician in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels - making her the most popular politician in Belgium.

•  Belgium: Commander in the Order of Leopold II,

• arrêtés royaux du 21 mai 2014