Cat Maximus Tops PM Bart De Wever in Instagram Followers
Belgium’s most famous feline has officially surpassed the country’s leader in Instagram popularity. Maximus Textoris Pulcher — the Scottish Fold rescue cat of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever — now boasts more than 218,000 followers on Instagram, edging past De Wever’s 216,000 as of 29 May 2026, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
“Maximus, you’ve caught up with me,” De Wever is quoted as saying in a photo shared on social media. The cat’s mock response, posted from his account: “Sorry, but I look down on losers.”
Context
Maximus Textoris Pulcher — whose Latin name translates roughly to “De Wever’s beautiful Maximus” — was adopted by De Wever in July 2025 from the Poezenbos shelter in Buggenhout. The VRT NWS report on his adoption noted that Maximus has FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), which means he cannot go outdoors — making the spacious Wetstraat 16 prime ministerial residence an ideal home.
De Wever, who became Belgium’s first Flemish nationalist prime minister in February 2025, drew inspiration from Larry the Cat of 10 Downing Street. Maximus is Belgium’s first official prime ministerial pet. “It’s the perfect match,” De Wever said at the time. “Everyone says I’ve taken a cat that looks just like me. But that only says something about me, nothing about Maximus.”
A Steady Rise to Fame
Maximus’ Instagram account (@maximustp16) launched alongside his adoption and quickly gained traction. By October 2025, he had become the third most popular N-VA figure on social media, trailing only De Wever and MP Theo Francken. In December, he surpassed Conner Rousseau, the leader of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit, with 136,000 followers to Rousseau’s 133,000.
International attention came in January 2026, when The Guardian profiled Maximus as a “social media star with subliminal political message.” The article noted that the account offers subtle observations on Belgian political life — from budget negotiations to EU summits — while humanizing a politician often perceived as aloof.
By February 2026, Maximus had reached 196,000 followers, though De Wever still led at 201,000. The gap narrowed steadily until this week’s milestone.
The Hungarian Boost
A key factor in Maximus’ final push past his owner may have been a diplomatic visit on 28 May. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar visited De Wever and posted a video of Maximus that went viral in Hungary, as reported by VRT NWS. The exposure introduced the feline to an entirely new audience.
Analysis: More Than Just a Cat
Political scientist Prof. Dave Sinardet of the Free University of Brussels told The Guardian that the Maximus account “creates a positive vibe for people who find politics boring or conflictual.” He noted that the posts frequently show De Wever working late into the night beside his cat, reinforcing an image of a hard-working leader.
Knack magazine described the phenomenon as “behind the silly humor, a typical N-VA message,” pointing to a calculated media strategy that blends relatability with political branding.
The account serves multiple purposes: it humanizes a politician who can come across as stern, provides a cross-linguistic appeal in Belgium’s divided media landscape, and even functions as a diplomatic icebreaker — as demonstrated by the Hungarian prime minister’s visit.
What’s Next
With momentum on his side — and a viral boost from international diplomacy — Maximus’ follower count may continue to climb. The question of what happens when De Wever eventually leaves office remains open. The prime minister has expressed hope that future residents of Wetstraat 16 will keep Maximus, much as Larry the Cat has remained a fixture at 10 Downing Street through multiple British governments.
For now, the real boss on the Wetstraat appears to be a grey Scottish Fold with a taste for Instagram fame — and, as his account frequently reminds his followers, a suitably regal disdain for those beneath him.