On October 22, 2023, Paul Van Tigchelt assumed the role of Minister of Justice and the North Sea, succeeding Vincent Van Quickenborne, who resigned from his position last Friday.

The decision to appoint Van Tigchelt, who previously served as the deputy chief of cabinet for Van Quickenborne, was made in the aftermath of a tragic attack in Brussels that claimed the lives of two Swedish nationals.

Van Quickenborne, a member of the Open VLD (Flemish Liberals), tendered his resignation in the wake of the attack. In the days following his departure, several potential candidates were mentioned as his successor, including former Liberal leader Gwendolyn Rutten, deputy leader Jasper Pillen, and budget minister Alexia Bertrand. Paul Van Tigchelt was not initially among the top contenders for the role.

Paul Van Tigchelt, aged 50, gained recognition for his leadership of OCAD, the Belgian Coordination Body for Threat Assessment, which he took over in January 2016, just prior to the terrorist attacks that occurred at Brussels airport and the Brussels metro. Before his tenure at OCAD, he had worked at the Antwerp public prosecutor's office.

Van Tigchelt is no stranger to the workings of the Belgian federal government. His previous service in the Van Quickenborne cabinet during the current legislative term, along with his past roles as a spokesperson and deputy head of cabinet for the then-Minister of the Interior, Patrick Dewael, make him well-versed in justice policy matters. This familiarity with the field allows him to take on his new responsibilities without requiring an extensive period of adjustment. Additionally, in his new role, Van Tigchelt will also serve as the deputy prime minister.

To formally introduce Paul Van Tigchelt as the new Minister of Justice, the Open VLD party will hold a press conference on Sunday evening. Photo by Kevin.B, Wikimedia commons.