Groen Names Vandemaele as New Federal Faction Leader

The Belgian Green party (Groen) has appointed Matti Vandemaele as its new faction leader in the federal parliament, succeeding Stefaan Van Hecke at the start of the new political year. The announcement, made Thursday morning, marks a leadership shift aimed at giving the party greater visibility in the Chamber of Representatives.

Vandemaele, 45, from Heule near Kortrijk in West Flanders, has served as a federal parliament member since July 2024, where he has focused on interior affairs and asylum and migration policy. As faction leader, he will now also set out Groen’s broad opposition line in the Chamber, with the policy domain of employment added to his portfolio, according to VRT NWS.

Priorities: Security and Climate Resilience

In his first statement as faction leader, Vandemaele signaled a clear agenda centered on what he calls the fundamental responsibilities of government. “The current government treats safety and climate resilience as a luxury, while that should be the very basis,” he said. “People should be able to trust a government that protects them and provides security. Whether it concerns a secure pension or protection against extreme heat, wildfires, or floods. Security and resilience will therefore be priority themes for me as faction leader.”

Vandemaele also struck a sharp tone on the federal government’s budgetary direction, as HLN reported. He accused the governing coalition of making wrong choices by shielding the wealthiest while pointing to pensions, benefits, and wages to balance the budget. “The beauty of politics is that you always have a choice,” he said. “I want people to believe in that again.”

Party Leadership Backing

Groen party chairman Aimen Horch expressed confidence that Vandemaele will give the party more “smoel” — a Dutch term for character and visibility — in the Chamber. “You always know where you stand with Matti: he brings people’s concerns to parliament, with passion and a sense for solutions,” Horch said, as reported by KW.be.

Horch also paid tribute to outgoing faction leader Stefaan Van Hecke, the party’s justice expert who has led the parliamentary group with distinction. “He has led the faction with great expertise over the past years,” Horch said. “His years of knowledge and experience remain indispensable in parliament and for the party.”

A Rising Career in Opposition

Vandemaele’s appointment caps a rapid rise within Groen since the party’s electoral setbacks of June 2024. He was Groen’s lead candidate in West Flanders for the federal elections and took his seat in the Chamber that July, according to his Wikipedia biography. Before entering parliament, he served as a policy advisor and later deputy cabinet chief to then-Vice Prime Minister Petra De Sutter from 2020 to 2024, and previously coordinated the Peace Village youth center in Mesen.

Groen has faced significant challenges in opposition. After winning just six seats in the 150-member Chamber in the 2024 elections, the party went into opposition at both federal and Flemish levels while the Arizona coalition government formed under Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The party has also weathered leadership instability, with Bart Dhondt resigning as chairman in December 2025 after barely a year in office, as Business AM documented in its coverage of Groen’s post-election position.

In January 2026, Knack magazine published an analysis describing Groen as a “rudderless dinghy” in opposition, naming Vandemaele among potential candidates to steer the party’s parliamentary group. He was also considered a potential party chairman candidate in June 2026 but declined, stating “My place is in parliament.”

What’s Next

The leadership change comes at a critical juncture as the federal parliament reconvenes for the new political year, with debates over the 2027 federal budget looming. Vandemaele’s profile on the Groen party website emphasizes his commitment to “fair climate policy” and building a society where “diversity strengthens us and poverty no longer exists.”

As faction leader, Vandemaele will be tasked with sharpening Groen’s opposition voice while the party seeks to rebuild its electoral standing. With his background in security and migration policy — traditionally challenging terrain for green parties — Vandemaele’s leadership may signal an effort to broaden Groen’s appeal beyond its core environmental base. Whether he can translate that ambition into renewed political relevance will be one of the key questions as the new parliamentary session unfolds.