Conner Rousseau

Conner Rousseau (born 13 November 1992) is a Belgian politician who is the chairman of the social-democratic Flemish Vooruit party (formerly known as the sp.a). He became its chairman in November 2019 at the age of 26.[1] In May 2023 there has been speculation that he is dating the current Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin.

Conner Rousseau
Leader of Vooruit
Incumbent
Assumed office
2019
Preceded byJohn Crombez
Member of the Flemish Parliament
Assumed office
2019
Personal details
Born (1992-11-13) 13 November 1992
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
CitizenshipBelgian
Political partyVooruit
Alma materGhent University
OccupationPolitician

Biography

Rousseau was born in Sint-Niklaas and is the son of former sp.a politician and university professor Christel Geerts who was the mayor of Sint-Niklaas and John Rousseau, a former basketball player.[2][3] He studied law at Ghent University and then worked as an advisor to Flemish minister Freya Van den Bossche and then sp.a chairman John Crombez.[4]

During the 2019 Belgian regional elections, Rousseau was elected to the Flemish Parliament on the East Flanders list.[4][5] After his election, he announced his intention to run for leadership of the sp.a and succeeded Crombez in this role.[6] In 2020, he announced his intention to change the name of the party from Socialistische Partij Anders (Socialist Party Differently) to Vooruit meaning "Forward." The motion was approved by party members and came into effect in 2021.[7]

Rousseau caused some controversy when he was videoed dancing at a wedding party in July 2020, in Fréjus, France without wearing a mask during the COVID-19 lockdown.[8]

References
  1. "A 26 ans, Conner Rousseau est le nouveau président des socialistes flamands: que va-t-il changer?". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  2. "Wie is Conner "matekes" Rousseau (SP.A), de jongste partijvoorzitter ooit? | VRT NWS: nieuws". vrt.be. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  3. "Conner Rousseau (SP.A): 'Het moet afgelopen zijn met onze hoererij met de macht' - België". Knack. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  4. "Conner Rousseau (26) trekt Vlaamse lijst sp.a in Oost-Vlaanderen: "Nieuw socialisme op frisse manier brengen"", Het Laatste Nieuws, 16 december 2018, online geraadpleegd op 4 juni 2019.
  5. "Sp.a gaat verder achteruit - Oost-Vlaamse lijsttrekker Conner Rousseau: "Vernieuwing heeft tijd nodig"", Het Laatste Nieuws, 26 mei 2019, online geraadpleegd op 4 juni 2019.
  6. Conner Rousseau wil SP.A-voorzitter worden: "Elektroshock nodig na 15 jaar verliezen", VRT Nieuws, 19 september 2019, online geraadpleegd op 17 oktober 2019.
  7. SP.A heet voortaan officieel Vooruit, voorzitter Rousseau: "Breuk met oude politiek", VRT Nieuws, 21 maart 2021.
  8. Ophef over video van feestende SP.A-voorzitter Conner Rousseau: "Trouwfeest, volgens de geldende regels georganiseerd", VRT Nieuws, 26 juli 2020

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