Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever has unwittingly given his social media following an unexpected lesson in the art of subtle persuasion – courtesy of his feline companion Maximus.
The grey Scottish fold cat, adopted from a refuge, has taken the internet by storm with over 142,000 followers on Instagram. The cat's Instagram account is more than just a lighthearted interlude into De Wever's work life, however; it carries what some might call a subliminal political message.
Political scientist Dave Sinardet says that Maximus frequently posts images of his master working late at night alongside him – a deliberate choice aimed to showcase the prime minister as a diligent worker. "Very often you see Bart De Wever as a hard worker, he is doing his best, he is working on Saturday night," Sinardet notes.
While Maximus may be seen as just an unassuming feline sidekick by some, in reality, he plays into the narrative of De Wever saving the day. For example, when congratulating his master after a hard-fought EU summit, the cat's speech bubble reads: "Congratulations, you are a hero." This perceived gesture has been interpreted as De Wever receiving an implicit endorsement from Maximus – and it carries significant weight.
In an era where voters often grapple with negative perceptions of politicians, Maximus represents a refreshing change. Unlike many of his colleagues who have complained about the social media posts featuring him, those who have expressed their discontent tend to be perceived as sour or disagreeable people.
Sinardet suggests that De Wever's strategy of releasing these endearing and amusing images has "a positive vibe" for voters who find politics boring or conflictual. Maximus thus functions not only as a loyal companion but also as an effective brand ambassador, helping to humanize the prime minister in the eyes of his constituents.
So what can we infer from this unlikely partnership between De Wever and Maximus? The feline sidekick may seem like just a casual addition to the Belgian PM's online presence, but its impact speaks volumes about how politics can be reimagined for the digital age.
The grey Scottish fold cat, adopted from a refuge, has taken the internet by storm with over 142,000 followers on Instagram. The cat's Instagram account is more than just a lighthearted interlude into De Wever's work life, however; it carries what some might call a subliminal political message.
Political scientist Dave Sinardet says that Maximus frequently posts images of his master working late at night alongside him – a deliberate choice aimed to showcase the prime minister as a diligent worker. "Very often you see Bart De Wever as a hard worker, he is doing his best, he is working on Saturday night," Sinardet notes.
While Maximus may be seen as just an unassuming feline sidekick by some, in reality, he plays into the narrative of De Wever saving the day. For example, when congratulating his master after a hard-fought EU summit, the cat's speech bubble reads: "Congratulations, you are a hero." This perceived gesture has been interpreted as De Wever receiving an implicit endorsement from Maximus – and it carries significant weight.
In an era where voters often grapple with negative perceptions of politicians, Maximus represents a refreshing change. Unlike many of his colleagues who have complained about the social media posts featuring him, those who have expressed their discontent tend to be perceived as sour or disagreeable people.
Sinardet suggests that De Wever's strategy of releasing these endearing and amusing images has "a positive vibe" for voters who find politics boring or conflictual. Maximus thus functions not only as a loyal companion but also as an effective brand ambassador, helping to humanize the prime minister in the eyes of his constituents.
So what can we infer from this unlikely partnership between De Wever and Maximus? The feline sidekick may seem like just a casual addition to the Belgian PM's online presence, but its impact speaks volumes about how politics can be reimagined for the digital age.
. Like, we're already living in an era where politicians are expected to have a perfect online persona, and Maximus is just casually doing his job as a sidekick... but at the same time, he's like, totally taking on that role in the most adorable way? It's almost like De Wever is using him to show people that even the leaders can be relatable and down-to-earth. And I love how it's not just about making the PM look good, but also about humanizing him and showing voters a more personal side.
, but really, they're people too... with their own quirks and flaws. And maybe that's exactly what we need – leaders who are willing to show us a more authentic side of themselves.
. It just goes to show that even the smallest things can have a big impact when done right 
.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see their leader as a hardworking dude with a cute cat by his side? 
It shows that even in politics, you can find a way to make things relatable and fun for the people. As someone who's been following Belgian politics, it's refreshing to see De Wever not taking himself too seriously and just being himself (or rather, his cat). 
- It seems like Maximus has become an integral part of De Wever's "village", helping him connect with his constituents in a more relatable way 
! I mean, who wouldn't want a cute kitty as their sidekick? 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that Maximus has over 142k followers? 
. This is literally the best thing to happen to politics since sliced bread 
... who wouldn't want to see their politician as a hard-working dude with a cool feline sidekick 
? 
. for voters who are, like, " politics is so boring" (and let's be real, who isn't right now?), maximus is all about making de wever seem more relatable and human 
. I guess what it shows is that politics doesn't have to be super serious all the time - even world leaders can use a little humor and humanity to connect with people.
gotta say, it's pretty clever how Bart De Wever leveraged his cat's charm to humanize himself on social media. I mean, who wouldn't want a furry little sidekick like Maximus endorsing their hard work? It's all about perception and vibe... politicians need to be more authentic if they wanna win people over 
! It's kinda cool that Bart De Wever's social media following has gone wild for Maximus - I guess you could say it's purr-fectly timed 
. But seriously, it's interesting how the cat's posts can actually influence people's perceptions of the PM's work ethic and personality.
.
. Plus, it's just plain fun to see a politician with a funny cat 
. I'm not saying politicians can't use social media for good, but come on, let's keep things in perspective here 
. Meanwhile, everyone else is like "ooh, cute cat!" 
and that's something we can all get behind.
. The way Maximus is always there, supporting De Wever, it gives off this whole "team player" vibe. Maybe we should all take a page out of their book and just be more chill about politics 
. I mean, who needs scandals when you've got a cat in a tie?