Patrick Dewael is new speaker of House of Representatives

Not Siegfried Bracke (N-VA) but Patrick Dewael (Open VLD) is the new speaker of the federal House of Representatives, after a voting round filled with suspense yesterday. With the support of his own N-VA, as well as CD&V and MR, the road to the speakership seemed wide open for Bracke.

In the end, he faced not one but three opponents: former speaker André Flahaut (PS), Meyrem Almaci (Groen) and Dewael, who was supported by the entire liberal group. After both Flahaut and Almaci withdrew their candidacy in a second round, the vote tipped towards Dewael (pictured).

Dewael is a former minister-president of Flanders and a former federal minister of interior affairs. He chaired the House of Representatives once before, between 2008 and 2011. When a new federal government is formed, a new speaker may yet be appointed. Traditionally, the function is negotiated as part of the federal formation.