Vincent Blondel: Potential Replacement for André Antoine in Walloon Parliament Elections

2023-09-29 09:06:00

The rumor has been growing for 24 hours in political and academic circles. Vincent Blondel, the rector of UCLouvain, is insistently cited as heading the list of Engagés en Brabant Wallon for the election to the Walloon Parliament. The party of President Maxime Prévot is looking for a replacement for Walloon MP André Antoine, who announced in La Libre that he will not run in the next election (regional, federal and European elections), on June 9, 2024. His successor would therefore be Vincent Blondel. At this stage, the information is neither confirmed nor denied by Maxime Prévot and André Antoine. As for Mr. Blondel, he has not yet responded to our requests.

André Antoine will leave politics: “Baby Antoine will take care of babies”

Ten days ago, in La Libre, the person announced that he would not run for a third term at the head of UCLouvain. “I think it is wise to leave the place,” he declared. Ten years is a long time. I invested a lot of energy. A renewal is a good thing.” After that ? “I will probably continue to teach, if possible. But I will probably try something different, replied the rector. I will be attentive to opportunities that arise. […] I will surely withdraw from the academic life of UCLouvain, while remaining very attached to the university world and that of higher education in Belgium and Europe.”

“I think it is wise to give way”: Vincent Blondel announces to La Libre that he will not seek a third term as rector at UCLouvain

This commitment might find an extension in politics. If he is elected a Walloon deputy, Vincent Blondel will also sit in the Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (or French Community), competent to legislate on higher education.

It comes to us that the MR would also have approached Mr. Blondel, but the latter would therefore have chosen Les Engagés. The party is expected to unveil its regional head list in Walloon Brabant next week.

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