Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever has given his office an unlikely new resident: Maximus, his charismatic grey cat who's quickly become the country's most popular feline politician. The cat's Instagram account now boasts over 142,000 followers and is raking in likes for its witty observations on Belgian politics.
De Wever adopted Maximus from a rescue centre after being charmed by the cat's affectionate nature, but little did he know his beloved pet would become an unofficial ambassador of his administration. The cat's posts have been likened to a "subliminal political message," as they subtly reveal De Wever's hardworking and dedicated personality.
When the government went through a tough budget negotiation in November, Maximus posted a picture with the caption: "'Another strike.'" However, unlike traditional criticism, this post was laced with humor. It showed the prime minister reading papers at night next to his feline companion, creating an image of him working tirelessly for Belgium.
The account "creates a positive vibe" by giving people who are often disillusioned with politics a chance to see their leader in a different light, according to Dr. Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at the Free University of Brussels. Maximus has become a master of conveying De Wever's dry humour and wit through simple yet powerful images.
One amusing post showed Maximus saying: "Congratulations, you are a hero!" when his owner was working hard on an EU summit. While it appears to be the cat showing affection for his master, it could also be interpreted as ventriloquizing De Wever's own words of praise for himself.
While not everyone has been amused by Maximus's posts – politicians who complained about them didn't win public sympathy – Dr Sinardet says that such criticism only reinforces De Wever's reputation as a dedicated and hardworking leader.
De Wever adopted Maximus from a rescue centre after being charmed by the cat's affectionate nature, but little did he know his beloved pet would become an unofficial ambassador of his administration. The cat's posts have been likened to a "subliminal political message," as they subtly reveal De Wever's hardworking and dedicated personality.
When the government went through a tough budget negotiation in November, Maximus posted a picture with the caption: "'Another strike.'" However, unlike traditional criticism, this post was laced with humor. It showed the prime minister reading papers at night next to his feline companion, creating an image of him working tirelessly for Belgium.
The account "creates a positive vibe" by giving people who are often disillusioned with politics a chance to see their leader in a different light, according to Dr. Dave Sinardet, a political scientist at the Free University of Brussels. Maximus has become a master of conveying De Wever's dry humour and wit through simple yet powerful images.
One amusing post showed Maximus saying: "Congratulations, you are a hero!" when his owner was working hard on an EU summit. While it appears to be the cat showing affection for his master, it could also be interpreted as ventriloquizing De Wever's own words of praise for himself.
While not everyone has been amused by Maximus's posts – politicians who complained about them didn't win public sympathy – Dr Sinardet says that such criticism only reinforces De Wever's reputation as a dedicated and hardworking leader.
I'm loving this, Bart De Wever's got a new partner in crime... err, politics! Maximus the cat is doing what politicians can't – bringing some much-needed fun to the table. It's genius how his Instagram posts are using humor and wit to humanize De Wever and show people he's not all work and no play 
. I think it's a great way to connect with the public, especially when they're feeling disillusioned with politics. Let's be real, who wouldn't want to see their leader cuddling with a cute cat 
? It's like a breath of fresh air in a world that often takes itself too seriously 
.
. You know how much people loved him? Same vibes here with Maximus! Bart De Wever is just being himself, and it's endearing. I mean, who doesn't love a good 'cat-astrophe' pun from Maximus 
. It's like the cat is saying, "Hey, politics can be serious, but let's not forget to have some fun with it." I think it's actually helping people connect with De Wever on a more personal level. And honestly, if politicians could just lighten up a bit and show us their human side (or in this case, feline side), we might actually learn something from them 
, like what's really going on here? Bart De Wever adopts this cat Maximus from a rescue centre and suddenly his whole admin is riding the feline's coattails... it's like they wanted to distract us from the real issues at hand 
. And those posts? totally calculated, if you ask me... I mean, who comes up with these witty observations that are supposed to be all about De Wever's 'dedicated personality' but really feel like some kinda subtle brainwashing 
. And have you seen Maximus's Instagram account? it's like they're trying to create a certain vibe or something... what's the real agenda here? 
. I'm loving how his posts humanize him and show a more approachable side of politics. It's genius, tbh! 
142k followers is crazy, but honestly who needs that much when u have maximus's adorable face 
! I mean, what's really going on here? Is Maximus just a cute kitty or is he somehow manipulating Bart De Wever to get what he wants? 
And those posts on Instagram, are they really just witty observations or is Dr. Sinardet trying to spin this into something more? 
Bart De Wever's cat Maximus is literally taking over the internet with those hilarious pics & witty observations on Belgian politics 
. The 'Another strike' post was genius - I'd never laugh at politics before, but now I'm intrigued 
. I wonder how many likes Maximus would get if he posted a pic of himself sleeping all day... 
I mean, who wouldn't want their PM to have a witty sense of humour and be so down-to-earth? He's like a normal dude who just happens to lead a country... which is kinda refreshing, right? 
Maximus is like the ultimate politician cat - always on point with his sassy comments and adorable selfies. I mean who wouldn't love a cat telling you to "Congratulations, you are a hero!"