Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever has given his life to politics - but not his love for his mischievous feline companion Maximus. The charismatic grey Scottish fold cat has gained an astonishing 142,000 followers on Instagram and is now the second most popular political account in the country.
The origins of Maximus's rise to fame date back to August when De Wever announced that the rescue cat would be joining him at his office in Brussels. With a name inspired by Roman history, "Maximus Textoris Pulcher," which translates to "De Wever's beautiful Maximus," it seems fitting that this is a cat whose antics have captured the hearts of many.
While Britain's Larry the Cat has been charming visitors to 10 Downing Street for over 15 years, De Wever's Instagram account with his loyal feline sidekick has quickly gained popularity. Maximus's social media posts are often humorous, light-hearted, and refreshingly free from politics, showcasing a more carefree side of Belgium's prime minister.
This unorthodox approach to politics may not be without its detractors, but those who have criticized De Wever for his posts featuring Maximus claim to come across as sour individuals. By contrast, the cat has managed to elicit sympathy and affection from his followers - and, by extension, the general public.
According to Prof Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at the Free University of Brussels, Maximus's account is part of De Wever's broader effort to humanize himself as a politician. "He is perceived as quite competent, as a strong debater, as someone with clear ideas, but maybe as a less warm person," Sinardet noted.
De Wever, known for his dry wit and tendency to share seemingly mundane moments from his daily life on social media, has found an ally in Maximus that helps reinforce his more appealing persona. "That only reinforces De Wever because they come over as sour people...when, this is, supposedly just a funny, positive cute cat account," Sinardet observed.
One can't help but feel that Maximus has won hearts and minds - if not for the cat's own mischievous mewling and antics. By ventriloquising De Wever's thoughts through captions like "Congratulations, you are a hero!" when asked by his followers about recent EU summit victories, Maximus cleverly sidesteps direct endorsement of the prime minister.
In short, Maximus has taken the world by storm - and Belgium is just as enamored with its new feline star.
The origins of Maximus's rise to fame date back to August when De Wever announced that the rescue cat would be joining him at his office in Brussels. With a name inspired by Roman history, "Maximus Textoris Pulcher," which translates to "De Wever's beautiful Maximus," it seems fitting that this is a cat whose antics have captured the hearts of many.
While Britain's Larry the Cat has been charming visitors to 10 Downing Street for over 15 years, De Wever's Instagram account with his loyal feline sidekick has quickly gained popularity. Maximus's social media posts are often humorous, light-hearted, and refreshingly free from politics, showcasing a more carefree side of Belgium's prime minister.
This unorthodox approach to politics may not be without its detractors, but those who have criticized De Wever for his posts featuring Maximus claim to come across as sour individuals. By contrast, the cat has managed to elicit sympathy and affection from his followers - and, by extension, the general public.
According to Prof Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at the Free University of Brussels, Maximus's account is part of De Wever's broader effort to humanize himself as a politician. "He is perceived as quite competent, as a strong debater, as someone with clear ideas, but maybe as a less warm person," Sinardet noted.
De Wever, known for his dry wit and tendency to share seemingly mundane moments from his daily life on social media, has found an ally in Maximus that helps reinforce his more appealing persona. "That only reinforces De Wever because they come over as sour people...when, this is, supposedly just a funny, positive cute cat account," Sinardet observed.
One can't help but feel that Maximus has won hearts and minds - if not for the cat's own mischievous mewling and antics. By ventriloquising De Wever's thoughts through captions like "Congratulations, you are a hero!" when asked by his followers about recent EU summit victories, Maximus cleverly sidesteps direct endorsement of the prime minister.
In short, Maximus has taken the world by storm - and Belgium is just as enamored with its new feline star.
I mean, who wouldn't love a cat that's bringing people together like this? it's amazing how something as simple as a cute cat video can put a smile on someone's face and make them forget about all the seriousness of politics. I think De Wever is a genius for using Maximus to show his human side - it's like he's saying "yes, I'm in charge, but I still have feelings too!" 
that cat's got skills lol i mean who else can get 142k followers on instagram? Bart de wever must be living his best life with a partner like maximus 
it's hilarious how de wever uses maximus to humanize himself, but honestly it's kinda genius. the cat's just a total charmer and who wouldn't love a politician with a sense of humor 
IT'S LIKE HE'S BRINGING SOME MUCH-NEEDED JOKE AND HUMANITY TO THE WORLD OF POLITICS!
! DE WEVER IS JUST HAVING FUN WITH HIS CAT AND IT GIVES PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SEE HIM IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. WHO DOESNT LOVE A GOOD LAUGH? I THINK ITS GREAT THAT MAXIMUS IS GETTING ALL THE ATTENTION WITHOUT BEING TOO POLITICAL, ITS LIKE HE'S BRINGING SOME MUCH NEEDED RELAXATION TO THE SCENE 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see pics of a cute grey cat getting into mischief? It's not every day you see a politician trying to humanize themselves through their social media presence, and it seems like it's working for De Wever. The thing is though, his posts with Max are often pretty lighthearted, which is great for the public image of him as a more down-to-earth guy. I can imagine some people might be skeptical at first, but if you look at all the cute pics and funny captions, it's hard not to get caught up in the charm of it all 
. Of course, there are always going to be some naysayers who don't like this sort of thing, but if you ask me, it's definitely working! Who wouldn't want to follow an account run by a politician and his adorable cat sidekick? 
that's so sweet! i love how maximus has brought out a softer side of bart de wever. it's great to see him connecting with people on a more personal level, especially through his adorable cat 
Maximus the cat is like a breath of fresh air for Belgian politics 
His Instagram account is hilarious and super relatable! I love how De Wever shares his silly moments with us, it makes him seem more down-to-earth 
. And let's be real, who can resist those adorable Scottish fold eyes? 
! Who knew politics could be so cute? I mean, De Wever's already a charismatic leader, but Maximus takes it to a whole new level. I think what's cool is how the cat humanizes him - people see a more relaxed side of the PM they might not have otherwise known about. And let's be real, who can resist those adorable kitty pics and vids? 
it's like they're trying to make me scroll more than I need to. Anyway, back to politics... what's up with these politicians thinking their pets are going to steal the show? I mean, De Wever and his Maximus buddy seem harmless enough, but at what point do we stop giving them a platform? It feels like they're just using the cat as an excuse to be more relatable or whatever. I get it, people want to see the human side of politicians, but can't we just stick to actual issues for once? 
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just think about all those cat videos being streamed 24/7 because of this guy's Instagram account...not exactly the most pressing issues facing Belgium rn 
btw, did you know that the EU has been struggling to reduce ocean plastic waste and there's still no concrete plan in place 
