Jan Bertels

Jan Bertels
Bertels in February 2019
Member of the Chamber of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 June 2024
Constituency	Antwerp
In office 20 June 2019 – 1 November 2020
Succeeded by	Gitta Vanpeborgh
Constituency	Antwerp
Member of the Flemish Parliament
In office 17 June 2014 – 25 May 2019
Constituency	Antwerp
Personal details
Born	(1968-11-21) 21 November 1968 (age 56) Herentals, Belgium
Political party	Vooruit
Alma mater	KU Leuven

Jan Bertels (born 21 November 1968) is a Belgian politician and member of the Chamber of Representatives.[1] A member of Vooruit, he has represented Antwerp since June 2024. He had previously been a member of the Chamber of Representatives from June 2019 to November 2020. He was a member of the Flemish Parliament from June 2014 to May 2019.[2]

Bertels was born on 21 November 1968 in Herentals.[1][2] He grew up in Herentals and Olen and followed the Latin-Greek stream at college in Herentals.[3] He studied law at KU Leuven, specialising in Belgian and European social security.[3] He was an assistant at KU Leuven before working as a social security advisor to Socialist Party Different (SP.A) federal government ministers Jan Peeters and Johan Vande Lanotte.[3][4] In 2003 he became director general of the Federal Public Service Social Security.[3][4]

Bertels was appointed to the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) in Olen in 1995.[3] He was appointed to the OCMW in Herentals in 2001.[3] He was elected to the municipal council in Herentals at the 2006 local election.[5] He became schepen (alderman) for finance and youth in 2007.[3] He was re-elected at the 2012 local election.[6] He became mayor of Herentals in January 2017 following the resignation of Jan Peeters.[7][8] He was re-elected at the 2018 local election but lost the mayor-ship after the right wing New Flemish Alliance took control of the municipal council.[9][10]

Bertels contested the 2009 regional election as the SP.A's 23rd placed candidate in Antwerp but was not elected.[11] He was elected to the Flemish Parliament at the 2014 regional election.[12][13] He was elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2019 federal election.[14] He resigned from the Chamber of Representatives in November 2020 to become chief of staff to SP.A federal government minister Frank Vandenbroucke.[15][16] He was re-elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2024 federal election.[17][18]

Bertels is married and has two children.[3] The family have lived in Noorderwijk since 2000.[3]

Electoral history of Jan Bertels

Election	Constituency	Party		Votes	Result
2006 local[5]	Herentals		Socialist Party Different	448	Elected
2009 regional[11]	Antwerp		Socialist Party Different	1,852	Not elected
2012 local[6]	Herentals		Socialist Party Different	680	Elected
2014 regional[12]	Antwerp		Socialist Party Different	7,525	Elected
2018 local[9]	Herentals		Socialist Party Different	2,613	Elected
2019 federal[14]	Antwerp		Socialist Party Different	9,995	Elected
2024 federal[17]	Antwerp		Vooruit	7,732	Elected

References

1. "De Kamerleden: Jan Bertels" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Chamber of Representatives. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
2. "Volksvertegenwoordigers: Gewezen Vlaamse volksvertegenwoordigers - Jan Bertels" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Parliament. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
3. "Jan Bertelsnaar het Vlaams Parlement" (PDF). Spots (in Dutch). Vol. 12. Herentals, Belgium: Socialist Party Different Herentals. March 2014. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2016.
4. "Kamerlid Jan Bertels kabinetschef gezondheidszorg minister Vandenbroucke". De Specialist (in Dutch). Kraainem, Belgium. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
5. "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 8 oktober 2006" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Government. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
6. "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 14 oktober 2012" (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Government. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
7. Otten, Hans (17 May 2023). "Jan Bertels lanceert zichzelf als kandidaat-burgemeester" (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
8. "Jan Bertels in sneltempo klaargestoomd voor burgemeester". RTV (in Dutch). Antwerp, Belgium. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
9. "Lokale verkiezingen 2018: Herentals - Verkozen kandidaten". Vlaanderen kiest (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Flemish Government. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
10. "Jan Bertels wil opnieuw burgemeester van Herentals worden". RTV (in Dutch). Antwerp, Belgium. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
11. "Resultaat Vlaams Parlement 7 juni 2009 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
12. "Resultaat Vlaams Parlement 25 mei 2014 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
13. "Eerste Vlaams mandaat voor Jan Bertels". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
14. "Resultaat Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers 26 mei 2019 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
15. "Herentalsenaar Jan Bertels wordt kabinetschef bij minister Frank Vandenbroucke". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020.
16. "DOC 55 0001/015 Lijst van de Kamerleden en van Hun Opvolgers" (PDF) (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Chamber of Representatives. 24 October 2023. p. 4. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
17. "Resultaat Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers 9 juni 2024 - Kieskring Antwerpen". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
18. "Oud-burgemeester Jan Bertels keert terug naar de Kamer". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. 9 June 2024. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.