Samuel Cogolati Leaves Politics to Lead Caritas Belgium

Samuel Cogolati, the former co-president of the Belgian green party Ecolo, is leaving politics to become the new Director General of Caritas International Belgium, the humanitarian NGO announced on Tuesday. Cogolati will take up his post on September 1, 2026, after a handover period with outgoing director Luc Van Haute.

The move marks a significant transition from political leadership to the humanitarian sector for the 37-year-old francophone politician, who served as co-president of Ecolo from July 2024 alongside Marie Lecocq before resigning in November 2025 amid internal party tensions.

From Parliament to Humanitarian Leadership

Cogolati, who holds a Master’s degree in Law from KU Leuven and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, served as a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives from 2019 to 2024. During his parliamentary career, he focused heavily on human rights issues, particularly the persecution of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region — advocacy that led to him being placed on a Chinese sanctions list in 2021 and targeted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers in 2023.

According to RTBF, Cogolati will also resign his seat as municipal councillor in Huy to avoid any confusion between his political past and his new humanitarian role. “I will have no further political affiliation,” he told La Libre. “Caritas is an independent humanitarian organization and there can be no doubt about this.”

A Logical Continuation

Despite the sector change, Cogolati insists his core mission remains unchanged. “I’m changing hats, it’s true, but my core fight remains the same,” he said in an exclusive interview with La Libre. “I will serve values based on human rights, human dignity, and migrant people. The common thread is logical.”

Caritas International Belgium, part of the global Caritas network headquartered at the Vatican, employs approximately 300 people and focuses on development aid abroad, humanitarian assistance, and migrant reception and advocacy in Belgium. The organization has Christian roots but operates pragmatically with staff of diverse faiths.

Political Context

The announcement comes at a politically sensitive time. The Belgian federal government, led by a coalition including the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, is pursuing what Migration Minister Theo Francken has described as “the strictest migration policy in Belgian history.” The European Union’s new Migration Pact is also approaching implementation.

Outgoing Director General Luc Van Haute, who is stepping down at age 67, reflected on the current migration climate: “This evolution touches me and worries me to a certain extent. I hope we won’t forget that behind every migrant, there is a person, a story, rights to be respected. Caritas must continue its role as a counterweight to political power.”

Cogolati acknowledged the delicate balance Caritas must strike. “Our line is to refuse both extremes,” he told La Libre. “We refuse the chaos that rightly frightens citizens. But Caritas also refuses the brutality that damages our humanity.”

Ecolo’s Continuing Turmoil

Cogolati’s complete departure from politics — including resigning his municipal council seat — represents another blow to Ecolo, which has been in a period of significant turmoil. After heavy electoral losses in the June 2024 federal election, the party struggled to redefine itself. The resignation of the co-presidents in November 2025 was followed by a difficult succession process, with several prominent figures declining to run.

As Wikipedia notes, Cogolati joined Ecolo at age 14 and rose through the ranks over two decades. His departure raises questions about the party’s ability to retain talent and rebuild after its electoral and leadership crises.

What’s Next

Cogolati will undergo a training period with Van Haute before officially taking the helm of Caritas International Belgium on September 1. His appointment places a former political leader with a strong human rights advocacy record at the head of one of Belgium’s key humanitarian organizations — an intersection of politics and civil society that will be closely watched, particularly as Belgium’s migration policies continue to evolve.

For more information about Caritas International Belgium’s work, visit their official website.